Shs 335 - Ethics Violation - Giving and Receiving Gifts

Applying Ethics in Practice

SHS/335

19 January 2014

The receiving of gifts could find you in an unethical situation and in violation of American Counseling Association Code of Ethics (ACA).  Boundaries set by the ACA Code of Ethics, section A.10.f – Receiving Gifts speaks of the challenges faced when deciding to receive gifts from a client (ACA, 2014).  Some cultures give small gifts as a symbol of respect, or the appreciation.  We have to take into account the monetary value of a gift, the therapeutic relationship with the client, the motivation behind the giving of the gift, and the counselors’ motivation for accepting or declining the gift when presented with gifts from clients (ACA, 2014).  For instance, a counselor is seeing a person who the courts mandated to seek counseling.  At the conclusion of the sessions the counselor must submit a report to the courts.  The client wants to give their counselor a car as appreciation for the help they’ve provided during their sessions.  There are several things to consider.  First, the monetary value of the gift is extreme.  You would have to question the motive of the client giving such an expensive gift, especially in this situation where the counselor is submitting a report to the court system.  The courts may look at this as an attempt to persuade a positive outcome in favor of the client.  It may also be a violation of the ACA Code of Ethics because the client’s possible motives are for the favorable outcome.  In a situation like this, the counselor should explain how this may look to the courts and the potential Code of Ethics violation to the client and decline the gift.  Even if the giving of the gift was culturally motivated, explaining this to the client may help them to understand that a car would not be considered a small gift in the Western Culture so they do not offend their client.