Professional ethics provide the scaffolding for the provision of professional services. Ethics guide how individuals are trained as well as how they treat and interact with others. Ethical guidelines,

Professional ethics provide the scaffolding for the provision of professional services. Ethics guide how individuals are trained as well as how they treat and interact with others. Ethical guidelines, then, affect numerous activities in which professionals are engaged. This holds true for providers from all professional groups who practice in the many forensic treatment settings available.

As a forensic treatment practitioner, you need a firm understanding of the professional ethics that guide your practice. Having a strong sense of professional identity will prepare you to provide high quality, ethically sound, and ethically informed professional services to the populations with which you choose to work. An understanding of professional ethics also reduces liability risks and provides you with a foundation for addressing challenges in a professional manner.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Consider at least one ethical dilemma encountered by mental health professionals who practice in forensic treatment settings. An ethical dilemma occurs when two or more ethical principles or standards conflict, and there is no right and wrong choice.
• Think about how ethical dilemmas might complicate treatment in specific forensic settings.
• Reflect on how you would resolve each dilemma using specific ethical principles and guidelines from your code of ethics in your profession.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 4

Post a description of at least one ethical dilemma that you might encounter as a mental health professional in a forensic setting. Explain how at least two ethical standards inform the dilemma. Finally, provide one suggestion to resolve the ethical dilemma, and explain how you might approach the dilemma, applying the ethical principles and guidelines for your professional practice.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the resources.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.