PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELOR EDUCATION
COUN 570: Legal & Ethical Issues in Counseling
Instructor: Roy Huggins, LPC NCC
Office: N/A
Phone: 503-839-4825
e-mail: hugginsb@pdx.edu

Term: Spring 2014

Location: CH 269
Time: Wed, 6:40-9-20pm
Office hours: N/A

Vision
Our vision is to be an internationally recognized urban university known for excellence in student
learning, innovative research, and community engagement that contributes to the economic vitality,
environmental sustainability, and quality of life in the Portland region and beyond.
Mission
Portland State Universitys mission is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic
qualities of urban life by providing access throughout the life span to a quality liberal education for
undergraduates and an appropriate array of professional and graduate programs especially relevant to
metropolitan areas. The University conducts research and community service that support a high
quality educational environment and reflect issues important to the region. It actively promotes the
development of a network of educational institutions to serve the community.
Values
The pursuit of our vision rests on our success in transforming undergraduate education, our growing
research programs, our strong collaboration with the community, and the core values we hold. These
values describe not only what PSU is now, but what it will be in the future: Learning and Discovery,
Access to Learning, A Climate of Mutual Respect, Openness and Reflection and Community and Civic
Engagement.
Learning and Discovery
PSU values intellectual inquiry in its undergraduate and graduate programs, provides leadership in the
development of knowledge, and creates opportunities for the application of knowledge to real-world
problems. We maintain a welcoming and stimulating environment that is conducive to success for
students, faculty, and staff. We value tenure as an essential component of this environment.

Access to Learning
PSU is committed to providing access and opportunity to learners from regional, national, and
international communities in their pursuit of lifelong learning and diverse educational goals.
A Climate of Mutual Respect
PSU values diversity and fosters a climate of mutual respect and reflection that supports different
beliefs and points of view and the open exchange of ideas.
Openness and Reflection
PSU endeavors to improve continuously as a university through reflection and open assessment of our
activities.
Community and Civic Engagement
PSU values its identity as an engaged university that promotes a reciprocal relationship between the
community and the University in which knowledge serves the city and the city contributes to the
knowledge of the University. We value our partnerships with other institutions, professional groups,
the business community, and community organizations, and the talents and expertise these partnerships
bring to the University. We embrace our role as a responsible citizen of the city, the state, the region,
and the global community and foster actions, programs, and scholarship that will lead to a sustainable
future.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Portland State University supports equal opportunity in admissions, education, employment, housing,
and use of facilities by prohibiting discrimination in those areas based on age, color, disability, marital
status, national origin, race, religion or creed, sex or gender, gender identity or gender expression,
sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis in law. This policy implements state and federal
laws. Inquiries about it should be directed to the Office of Equity and Compliance, 1600 SW 4th
Avenue, Suite 830, Portland, OR 97201, 503-725-5919, diversity@pdx.edu.
DEPARTMENT POLICY STATEMENT
The counseling profession requires a high level of personal integrity, self-awareness, and personal
maturity. Demonstrating professionalism in classroom behavior, as well as being present and
engaged in classroom activities, is expected at all times as a graduate student in Counselor Education.
Students are expected to attend all class meetings; however, one absence is not considered excessive.
Students whose beliefs, religious practices, or lifestyles may conflict with class attendance from time
to time should discuss such issues with the course instructor at the beginning of the term. If possible,
arrangements should be made to make up missed attendance-related assignments and experiences. It
is up to the student and instructor to negotiate a satisfactory solution with respect to absences. Please
see class policy noted in this syllabus under: Missed class (or assignment deadlines).
Students and faculty are expected to maintain an atmosphere in which controversial issues, germane to
the subject matter, can be examined and discussed. In exercising this freedom of expression, faculty
and students are expected to exercise appropriate restraint and show respect for the opinion of others.
The Counselor Education department seeks to balance providing care and support, high expectations,
and opportunities for participation in meaningful activities. All students are expected to participate in
constructing a respectful learning environment in the classroom. Arrive to class on time, stay for the
entire class, come back from breaks on time, turn off cell phones, etc. Be mindful of what might
detract from the learning experience of students and faculty alike (e.g., talking to fellow students
during lecture).

All students in the department must demonstrate behavior that is consistent with the Ethical Standards
put forth in 2005 by the American Counseling Association:
http://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf . Failure to do so can result in termination
from the department.
Demonstrating effective ethical and professional conduct is extremely important and will be monitored
and reviewed by the faculty throughout your time in the program in order to assess your development
as a professional counselor. Formal occasions for feedback in this regard occur following First Year
Student Reviews (May of each year) and during Practicum and Internship. Concerns and deficiencies
will be brought to your attention and used by faculty in assessing your overall academic/ professional
progress in the department. Deficiencies which are not corrected will be cause for disciplinary action
which may include termination from the department.
Course Description
This course examines the ethical principles, laws, and legal issues that influence the practice of
counselors in a variety of settings. This course will include an overview of systems which influence
legal and ethical issues, guidelines for testifying, and an examination of the most common ethical
dilemmas the counselor may encounter. Methods of instruction include lecture, small group work,
individual assignments, and whole class discussion.
Required Materials
Remley, T.P. & Herlihy, B. (2012). Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling
(4th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice-Hall
Course Objectives
1. Sensitize students to the ethical and legal issues in the profession and the consequences of their own
actions in practice
2. Improve students ability to reason about ethical issues
3. Describe a model for ethical decision-making
4. Apply ethical and legal principles to liability risk management
5. Explore the resolution of ethical dilemmas in experiential practice groups
CACREP STANDARDS ADDRESSED
1. PROFESSIONAL ORIENTATION AND ETHICAL PRACTICE

b. professional roles, functions, and relationships with other human service providers, including
strategies for interagency/interorganization collaboration and communications; As assessed by class
participation, journal entries, final exam, and professional disclosure statement/paper.
f. professional organizations, including membership benefits, activities, services to members, and
current issues; As assessed by class participation, journal entries, final exam, and professional
disclosure statement/paper.
g.professional credentialing, including certification, licensure, and accreditation practices and
standards, and the effects of public policy on these issues; As assessed by class participation, journal
entries, final exam, and professional disclosure statement/paper.
i. advocacy processes needed to address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, and
success for clients; As assessed by class participation, journal entries, final exam, and professional
disclosure statement/paper.
j. ethical standards of professional organizations and credentialing bodies, and applications of ethical
and legal considerations in professional counseling; As assessed by class participation, journal
entries, final exam, and professional disclosure statement/paper.

CORE STANDARDS ADDRESSED

C.1.4a. practice rehabilitation counseling in a legal and ethical manner, adhering to the Code of
Professional Ethics and Scope of Practice for the profession; As assessed by class
participation, journal entries, final exam, and professional disclosure statement/paper.
C.1.5.a. explain difference between certification, licensure, and accreditation; As assessed by class
participation, journal entries, final exam, and professional disclosure statement/paper.
Additional Class Information
Assistance/Accommodations: PSU is committed to providing equal access to its learning environment.
If you are an individual with a specific hearing, sight, physical, psychiatric, learning or other disability,
you may be eligible for support services. Please contact the Disability Resources Center for more
information (http://www.drc.pdx.edu). Students who anticipate they will need any special assistance or
accommodations due to a disability should contact me prior to the second class meeting so we can
make those arrangements.
Academic Honesty: Academic honesty is essential for the intellectual life of the University. Students
have an obligation to adhere to the standards in the student Code of Conduct
(http://www.pdx.edu/dos/conductcode).
Course Requirements
Attendance: Attendance, preparation, and participation in class discussions are required. Missing one
class will not result in a penalty, but each additional class will result in a 5pt deduction from the final
grade. If you know in advance that you are going to miss a class, please contact me as soon as
possible. For all other attendance policies, particularly regarding illness, please follow standard
university protocol.
Readings: Students are expected to come to class prepared to fully participate in discussions. In order
to do so, students are expected to have read the required reading assignments prior to class attendance.
The readings for each class session are noted in the course outline.
Journal (20pt): You will complete one journal entry for every class, for a total of ten entries. Ideally
these entries will be your personal reactions to the class material and reading. Each entry must be a
minimum of 200 words, and each is worth 2pt. Note that the journal will only be graded for length and
number of entries, not for content. This is to allow you full freedom to your writing. The final journal
must be emailed all at once in one document to hugginsb@pdx.edu by 11:59:59am on June 11th, and
be sent in .doc, .docx, .odt, or .rtf. No other formats will be accepted (including PDF). I will send a
confirmation email when I receive your journal. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24
hours, it could be an indication that I did not receive the journal. It is the students responsibility to
assure that the journal was received.
Final Exam (40pt): There will be an open-book final exam give in two parts. The test will consist of
questions that mirror the state law and ethics exam for LPCs. After this test is graded, it will be
returned to the student for revisions, which can be done at home. Questions that are missed should be
corrected, a reference for the correction cited, and re-submitted. The points on the test will be awarded
th
based on the grading of the revision. The resubmitted exam is due by 11:59:59am on June 11 , and
be sent in .doc, .docx, .odt, or .rtf. No other formats will be accepted (including PDF). I will send a
confirmation email when I receive your journal. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24
hours, it could be an indication that I did not receive the journal. It is the students responsibility to
assure that the journal was received. Late resubmissions will be penalized 11pt for each 12hr
increment.

Disclosure Statement Paper (40pt): You will develop a disclosure statement that is ready to be used in
practice for yourself. The paper should be no more than two pages single spaced, and formatted in a
way that is readable to the public. The assignment must be uploaded to TK20 by 11:59:59am on May
14th. Late assignments will be penalized 11pt for each 12hr increment.
The paper will be graded on
1. Inclusion of essential elements of the disclosure statement
2. Writing, grammar, length, and readability
3. Readability for the general public (as opposed to readability by clinical peers.)
The best statements will:
1. Cite parts of Oregon state law where appropriate (2 citations minimum.)
2. Be ready to be used in real life.
3. Be completely free of grammar and spelling mistakes.
4. Be written in a way that a non-professional can understand.
5. Be written based on your status being post-degree but pre-license.
6. You can make up a fantasy practice address and supervisor if applicable.
Extra Credit: No extra credit will be given in the class.
Grading: Students course grades will be determined by scores on the grades on assignments and
considerations from attendance and participation, and will be calculated on the following scale.
Gr
ade
A
AB+
B
BC

Points

Percent

94
90 93
87 89
84 86
80 83
79.9 and lower

94 100
90 93.9
87 89.9
84 86.9
80 83.9
79.9 and below

COURSE SCHEDULE
Date

Subject

Reading

Assignments

04/02/12

Overview & Introduction

Ch 1

04/09/12

Identity & Multicultural Context

Ch 2 & 3

04/16/12

Client Rights & Confidentiality

Ch 4 & 5

04/23/12

Records & Competence

Ch 6 & 7

04/30/12

Boundaries & Child Issues

Ch 8 & 9

05/07/12

Families & Testing

Ch 10 & 11

05/14/12

Business & Counselor Education

Ch 12 & 13

05/21/12

Supervision & Research

Ch 14 & 15

Disclosure
Statement Due
Test

05/28/12

Resolving Dilemmas

Ch 16

Test Returned

06/04/12

Special Topics

TBD

06/11/12

Class Review & Summary

Journal Due
Test Revisions Due