Codes of Ethics in Psychological Assessments
Introduction
Counselors administer psychological assessments to arrive at some hypotheses about an individual and their personality, behavior, and capabilities. ACA Codes of Ethics require that these assessments be performed by a competent and licensed psychologist to protect the client from further harm (Ponton & Duba, 2009). In practice, psychologists work with clients of diverse cultures. In this regard, the ACA Code of ethics requires that counselors by multicultural competence in dealing with a diverse clientele. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the Codes of Practice and ethical issues that psychologists, counselors, clinicians, or therapists must consider when using psychological assessments.
Ethical Issues in Psychological Assessments
According to (Ronald, 2017), psychological assessment is one component of the therapy process. Section E: Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation of the ACA Code of Ethics require that counselors take into account the cultural and personal context of the client. In performing psychological assessments, specific ethical issues arise:
Culture and diversity issues: Under Section E of the ACA Code of Ethics, subsection E.5.b talks about cultural sensitivity (Ponton & Duba, 2009). Ethical issues in multicultural therapy include cultural bias, cultural discrimination, patient privacy, and stereotypes. Subsection E.5.b requires that counselors recognize that diversity of culture affects how patients experience problems. In mental disorder diagnosis, clients’ lifestyle and socioeconomic experiences have to be considered.
Client welfare: Subsection E.1.b of the ACA Code of Ethics outlines client welfare. Ethical issues in client welfare include their treatment plans, client decision making, and forensic proceedings (Francis, Russell, & Juan, 2020). In this context, therapists must not misuse assessment results and interpretations. Also, counselors must take reasonable steps to prevent other people from abusing the client’s data. Nonetheless, the client’s rights to know the results must be respected.
Competence to use and interpret assessment results: Section E.2 of the ACA Code of Ethics outlines the ethical requirements of a counselor when it comes to limits of expertise, appropriate use, informed consent in assessment, and release of results to qualified personnel (Ponton & Duba, 2009). Therapists should only use testing and assessment services for areas where they have been trained, licensed, and proved competence. Also, all assessments should be put into appropriate use. Additionally, counselors should explain the nature and purpose of the evaluation to the client before performing it. Last, the client’s results should only be shared with their consent.
Avoiding Ethical Issues in Psychological Assessments
A large number of therapists encounter ethical issues when performing psychological assessments. These ethical issues range from client welfare, limits of competence, appropriateness results use, decision-making based on assessment results, explanation to clients, proper diagnosis, cultural sensitivity, and informed consent, among many others (Ronald, 2017). However, there are still ways to avoid these ethical issues from disrupting psychological assessments:
Avoid depending on third parties: Counselors must always base their decisions on assessment results. Also, counselors need to release client data only to qualified personnel, but only if consented by the client to do so (Ponton & Duba, 2009). Limits of competence must always be observed, and seeking opinion on third parties or advising the client based on a third-party idea must be avoided.
Embracing cultural sensitiveness: Diagnosis of psychological disorders is faced with diverse ethical issues as far as cultural diversity is concerned. In this respect, counselors must respect clients of all cultures, their beliefs, experiences, and opinions when it comes to their mental disorder (Ponton & Duba, 2009). Multicultural competence is a trait that counselors rely on to embrace cultural sensitiveness.
Competence is assessment: First, therapists must read and understand the assessment material. Also, the assessment material must be put into its appropriate use to ensure that correct results are obtained (Diane & Alan, 2010). Third, counselors must understand their limits of competence and only administer tests in which they are qualified and licensed. Last, assessment results should be kept private and confidential, and the client must be made aware of the results.
Clinician way of Assessing Behavior Stemming from Cultures and Subcultures
A clinician has to be culturally competent when assessing client behaviors that stem from cultures and subcultures. According to (Koocher & Rey-Casserly, 2003), the basic premise of cultural assessment is that clients have the right to their cultural values, practices, and beliefs. Clinicians must understand, respect, and consider these factors in performing culturally competent assessments and care. Client behaviors that step from cultures of subcultures differ with origin, ethnicity, background, and beliefs. While specific assessments suit specific clients, the same assessments might be unsuitable for other populations.
Clinicians assess the unusual behaviors originating from cultural and sub-cultural beliefs by being empathic and upholding client welfare (Francis, Russell, & Juan, 2020). Also, clinicians provide favorable conditions for the administration of assessments to the clients, for example, by guaranteeing privacy, freedom from distraction, and ensuring the client’s comfort. Besides, clinicians only administer behavior assessments on the areas where they are competent. Also, clinicians should select appropriate instruments concerning the client’s culture and sub-culture behavior.
Impact of Client’s Education, Persona, and Social Developments on Assessment Choice
Under Section E of the ACA Code of Ethics, subsection E.6 details the requirements for instrument selection. In psychological assessments, clinicians encounter diverse clients in terms of education/academic, career, social, and personal development patterns (Ponton & Duba, 2009). The main factor to consider here is instrument selection. In such contexts, clinicians carefully consider the reliability, validity, psychometric limitations, and the instrument’s appropriateness to the client based on his/her education level. In assessments, counselors use multiple assessment forms for purposes of diagnosis (Ronald, 2017). However, the education level of a patient influences the assessment choice. For example, assessment for a school drop-out would differ from the assessment for a graduate client. Their IQ levels vary, and similar instruments would render the results invalid and unreliable in results interpretation (Diane & Alan, 2010).
Conclusion
Section E of the ACA Code of Ethics is about the evaluation, assessment, and interpretation of test results. In performing psychological assessments, clinicians promote the client’s well-being by developing and making use of suitable mental health, career, educational, and psychological assessments. Counselors avoid ethical issues from arising by improving client welfare, enhancing cultural sensitivity, ensuring the appropriateness of instruments based on diversity concerns, and by observing limits of competence and informed consent requirements in the assessment.
References
- Diane, L. E., & Alan, M. G. (2010). Harm Reduction Therapy: A Practice-Friendly Review of Research. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(2), 201-214.
- Francis, L. G., Russell, L. F., & Juan, M. E. (2020). ISSUES IN THE ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF CULTURALLY DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS. Behavioral Health, 3-7.
- Koocher, G. P., & Rey-Casserly, C. M. (2003). Ethical Issues in Psychological Assessment: Handbook of Psychology. Boston: Pearson.
- Ponton, R. F., & Duba, J. D. (2009). The ACA Code of Ethics: Articulating counseling’s professional covenant. Journal of Counseling & Development, 87(1), 117-121.
- Ronald, J. C. (2017). Psychological Testing and Assessment (9th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.