Guidance and Psychological Counseling
Bachelor	Length of the Programme: 4	Number of Credits: 240	TR-NQF-HE: Level 6	QF-EHEA: First Cycle	EQF: Level 6

ECTS Course Information Package

School/Faculty/Institute

Faculty of Education

Course Code

PCG 303

Course Title in English

Professional Ethics and Legal Issues

Course Title in Turkish

Mesleki Etik ve Yasal Konular

Language of Instruction

Type of Course

Flipped Classroom

Level of Course

Select

Semester

Fall

Contact Hours per Week

Lecture: 1.5

Recitation:

Lab:

Other:

Estimated Student Workload

76 hours per semester

Number of Credits

2 ECTS

Grading Mode

Standard Letter Grade

Pre-requisites

PCG 106 - Guidance and Psychological Counseling

Co-requisites

None

Expected Prior Knowledge

none

Registration Restrictions

Only Undergraduate Students

Overall Educational Objective

To learn the main ethical and legal issues related to the counseling profession.

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the principles and issues of professionalism and ethics in counseling. Students will understand the roles, functions, and characteristics of psychological counselors while focusing on ethical, legal, and professional issues. Students will learn to think critically and challenge themselves to make sound decisions when faced with ethical dilemmas.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) demonstrate awareness of ethical and professional competencies necessary to become an effective psychological counsellor;
2) know the Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association’s ethical guidelines;
3) recognize potential personal difficulties to overcome as well as understand his/her own competencies, skills, and strengths as a future professional counselor;
4) analyze ethical dilemmas by a sound decision-making process.

Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes	1	2	3	4
1) Scientific competence, knowledge, skills and effective teaching methods and strategies in order to provide psychological help.
2) Knowledge that will enable students to develop the skills to cope with problems they encounter in the school environment.
3) Basic knowledge about developmental processes from early childhood to adulthood and the characteristics and issues unique to each stage.
4) Knowledge about the tools used in school counseling services and being equipped to develop relevant programs.
5) Competence in vocational guidance and counseling practices.
6) Understanding of human relations and interaction.
7) Knowledge, experience and skills in scientific methods in order to conduct research studies in behavioral sciences.
8) Awareness of the necessity of lifelong learning, accessing information, and monitoring developments in education, science, and technology. An ability to solve problems related to the field, continuously developing and renewing oneself, and having critical thinking and questioning skills. An ability to use information technologies.
9) Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written Turkish; ability to use English at least in the European Language Portfolio B2 General Level.
10) Knowledge about past and present regulations and legislations regarding professional applications of the field and being equipped to contribute to its further development.
11) Sensitivity for different cultures, values and democratic rights of individuals; the knowledge of national culture and history, and using that knowledge in increasing awareness and involvement in national and international social, cultural, artistic, and technological developments.
12) A sense of professional and ethical responsibility, and awareness of national and universal sensitivity expressed in the Basic Law of National Education.

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None	S Supportive	H Highly Related

	Program Outcomes and Competences	Level	Assessed by
1)	Scientific competence, knowledge, skills and effective teaching methods and strategies in order to provide psychological help.	N
2)	Knowledge that will enable students to develop the skills to cope with problems they encounter in the school environment.	S	Presentation
3)	Basic knowledge about developmental processes from early childhood to adulthood and the characteristics and issues unique to each stage.	N
4)	Knowledge about the tools used in school counseling services and being equipped to develop relevant programs.	N
5)	Competence in vocational guidance and counseling practices.	N
6)	Understanding of human relations and interaction.	N
7)	Knowledge, experience and skills in scientific methods in order to conduct research studies in behavioral sciences.	N
8)	Awareness of the necessity of lifelong learning, accessing information, and monitoring developments in education, science, and technology. An ability to solve problems related to the field, continuously developing and renewing oneself, and having critical thinking and questioning skills. An ability to use information technologies.	S	Participation
9)	Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written Turkish; ability to use English at least in the European Language Portfolio B2 General Level.	N
10)	Knowledge about past and present regulations and legislations regarding professional applications of the field and being equipped to contribute to its further development.	S	Exam
11)	Sensitivity for different cultures, values and democratic rights of individuals; the knowledge of national culture and history, and using that knowledge in increasing awareness and involvement in national and international social, cultural, artistic, and technological developments.	S	Presentation
12)	A sense of professional and ethical responsibility, and awareness of national and universal sensitivity expressed in the Basic Law of National Education.	H	Presentation

Prepared by and Date	,
Course Coordinator	MUSTAFA ÖZCAN
Semester	Fall
Name of Instructor	Asst. Prof. Dr. VINCENT HENRY SIENKIEWICZ

Course Contents

Week	Subject
1)	Introduction to Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling
2)	Professional Identity of Counselors
3)	Multicultural Competence and Social Justice
4)	Client Rights and Counselor Responsibilities
5)	Confidentiality and Privileged Communication
6)	Competence and Malpractice in Counseling
7)	Boundary Issues
8)	Technology in Counseling
9)	Counseling Children and Vulnerable Adults
10)	Counseling Families and Groups
11)	Professional Relationships and Private Practice
12)	Supervision and Consultation
13)	Professional Writing, Conducting Research, and Publishing
14)	Resolving Legal and Ethical Issues
15)	Final Examination Period
16)	Final Examination Period

Required/Recommended Readings

Textbook: Remley, T. P., & Herlihy, B. (2016). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling. (5 th ed.) Boston: Pearson Education Limited. Guidelines: Psikolojik danışma ve rehberlik alanında çalışanlar için etik kurallar. 8. Baskı. Ankara: Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Derneği. http://www.pdr.org.tr/userfiles/file/etik.pdf

Teaching Methods

In order to provide a productive learning environment, I will use a combination of video recorded short lectures, experiential learning activities, and facilitated class discussions. Students are expected to check the syllabus for each week and come to class prepared (having read the chapters and watched the videos) to actively participate in class discussion. Student comments and questions enhance the usefulness of this course for everyone. Therefore, please actively participate in the experiential activities and group discussions. Please do not hesitate to stop me and ask questions at any point during class.

Homework and Projects

Case Presentation and Discussion of Resolving an Ethical Issue: Groups of 4 or 5 students will each come up with a case that involves an ethical or legal issue that is related to the topic of the week. The case should involve aiming to find a solution to an issue faced in the counseling field. The case could take place in a school setting, a mental health institution, or could involve the community at large. The groups will each present their case and lead a class discussion on how to resolve the ethical and legal issues involved in the case using the ethical decision making process learned in class. Asking questions to your classmates and finding creative ways of getting them involved in the ethical decision making process is essential. A 1-2 pages of write up of the case and the group’s response for the resolution of the issue should be uploaded to Blackboard together with the presentation before class on the day the presentation is due.

Laboratory Work

Computer Use

Other Activities

Assessment Methods

Assessment Tools	Count	Weight
Attendance	1	% 20
Presentation	1	% 40
Midterm(s)	1	% 40
TOTAL		% 100

Course Administration

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity	No/Weeks	Hours			Calculation
	No/Weeks per Semester	Preparing for the Activity	Spent in the Activity Itself	Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours	14	1	2	1	56
Homework Assignments	1	10			10
Midterm(s)	1	8	2		10
Total Workload					76
Total Workload/25					3.0
ECTS					2