From the scenarios below, explain why, according to ACA code of ethics, you would agree or disagree with whether the situation is ethical or not.

1) A professional counselor who is working with a gentleman named Steve, who is HIV positive, feeling a range of emotions, and is actively having unprotected sex and does not disclose his status to his partners. The counselor agrees to continue working with Steve only if he gives verbal consent to not have sexual relations with others until Steve is less confused. I believe this in unethical on a number of levels. First, an individual's sex life cannot be a condition of treatment. Second, Steve just disclosed a potential public health issue with an unknown number of individuals out there who have been exposed to HIV and are unaware of it. Along with the individuals that those individuals had sexual activities with after having been with Steve. The snowball effect can happen rapidly in this situation and should be handled appropriately. This counselor should seek counsel with other professionals in mental health on the best and safest way to proceed from here. This scenario involves the same code as above.

2) A rehabilitation counselor is conducting a research study. Because raw data includes confidential information about individual participants, the counselor deletes all identifying data about the participants before giving the material to the secretary for computer entry. This scenario would be considered ethical. The rehabilitation counselor made sure to protect their participants confidential information before proceeding to forward the material to the secretary. In the ACA Code of Ethics, it states in section G.2.d. "Confidentiality of Information", information obtained about research participants during the course of research is confidential. Procedures are implemented to protect confidentiality.

3) A high school counselor contacts parents after a student has admitted to being depressed and wanting to end her life. In this situation, the counselor behaved in an ethical manner. A counselor must not keep information confidential if it is necessary to protect clients or other individuals, according to the ACA Code of Ethics in standard B.2.a. Due to the student revealing their suicidal thoughts, the counselor is required to inform mandatory parties such as parents, due to the student being a minor.

4) A counselor recommends to their clients to engage in more social activities in order to be out of their house more. As a result of this, the client enrolls in the same art class as their counselor. The counselor decides to stay enrolled within the class. I believe that the counselor staying in the class is dependent on a few variables: the client did not intentionally join the class (I find this vague in the text), the sessions do not necessitate group interaction, and both the counselor and client make an effort to limit interaction. I find these requirements to be important to the ethical evaluation of the situation as it would be impossible for a clause to state (counselor and client must remain X distance apart when not in session). Meaning, there is an inherent risk of seeing your counselor in a public setting much like your doctor, dentist, or plumber. I was unable to locate any specific clause claiming a counselor and client could not engage in the same leisure activities aside from standard A.5.e, which prohibits a personal virtual relationship with a client. While the counselor is not in violation of any code from the American Counseling Association (2014), meaning they are likely operating ethically. however, I believe that their decision is professionally unwise. I maintain that the counselor is in compliance with the ACA.

5) A professional counselor provides services to a married couple who decides to divorce. The wife obtains a restraining order, given that the husband has been violent in the past. The husband calls the counselor and threatens to bomb the wife's house if she doesn't let him see their children. The counselor decides the man is just upset and will not do anything and chooses not to notify authorities or the wife. This violates the ACA ethics code B.2.a. Serious and Foreseeable Harm and Legal Requirements. The counselor may think the husband is just upset and will not harm anybody, but he chooses to ignore a serious threat that could end with people injured or dead. Confidentiality can be breached when there is foreseeable harm. The counselor is acting unethically.