Join OCA President, Dr. Chase Morgan-Swaney, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LMHC, NCC, CCMHC, ACS, for OCA's September First Friday Lunch & Learn!
Ethical dilemmas in counseling are rarely as simple as finding the “correct” answer in a code of ethics. More often, counselors find themselves balancing multiple responsibilities at once: professional standards, cultural awareness, clinical judgment, and their own personal values, while still prioritizing client autonomy and well-being.
This one-hour live webinar introduces the Counselor Values-Based Conflict Model (Kocet & Herlihy, 2014), a practical framework designed to help counselors work through situations where their values, the values of the profession, and a client’s belief system are discordant. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all answers, the model helps clinicians slow down, reflect, and respond with intention. The training will look at how our own assumptions, emotional reactions, cultural background, and deeply held values can shape clinical decision-making, often without us realizing it.
The session walks through a five-step process for working through value-based conflicts: clarifying the nature of the issue, identifying what is truly at the core of the concern, recognizing any barriers to providing appropriate care, seeking consultation or supervision when needed, and carefully weighing possible responses before choosing the one that best supports the client’s welfare.
Through case study analysis and guided reflection, participants will practice distinguishing between an ethical dilemma and other challenges such as personal discomfort, uncertainty, or gaps in competence. The discussion will also highlight common areas where value conflicts arise, including identity, culture, religion or spirituality, relationships, sexuality, and health-related decisions.
CEs have been applied for.
