Becoming an Ethical Helping Professional: Cultural and Philosophical Foundations, with Video Resource Center

This new text on ethics and professional development from Rita and John Sommers-Flanagan (popular authors of Clinical Interviewing and Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories in Context and Practice) presents a unique blend of philosophical underpinnings of counseling ethics and their application in practice. In Section I, the Sommers-Flanagans describe the philosophical roots of ethical thinking and then demonstrate how these schools of thought relate to current counseling practice.  Section II focuses on general ethical problems that all counselors face, including the influence of personal and cultural values on the helping relationship, the counseling process, confidentiality, boundaries, assessment, and research. Section III covers specific ethical issues encountered by counselors working in specific settings, including agencies, schools, and private practice and with particular specialties, including couples and family counseling, rehabilitation counseling, substance abuse counseling, pastoral counseling, and supervision. Like all of their texts, the authors weave a multicultural focus throughout the book and include numerous student-friendly features such as chapter objectives, candid cases and stories from students and counselors, questions for reflection, and student discussion activities. The text includes an Instructor's Manual and PowerPoint slides. Included in each book is a unique acess code to a companion website with videos featuring the authors presenting several "guest lectures" on content from the book.