Ethical challenges faced by Philippine public secondary school guidance counselors under the new normal

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48017/dj.v9iSpecial1.2869

Keywords:

mental health, ethics, pandemic, tele-counseling, dilemma

Abstract

This study aims to explore the impact of the ethical challenges faced by guidance counselors in public schools in Nueva Vizcaya in performing their tasks of counseling and providing other related services to the students in an online learning environment brought about by the COVID- 19 pandemic, and how they addressed the same.  By a thorough understanding of the experiences of these public-school guidance counselors, it is hoped that new solutions or strategies to deal more effectively with such challenges can be offered.  Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study examines the lived experiences of four (4) public secondary school guidance counselors who cater to the counseling needs of fifty-two public high schools in Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. Results reveal that guidance counselors experience challenges, ethical and otherwise, in the delivery of their services to students. The most common ethical dilemmas pointed out by the participants are maintaining confidentiality of personal disclosures and student records, multiple relationships, awareness of a colleague's ethical transgression, and maintaining boundaries. Guidance counselors will always be part of the support group in the holistic formation of the learners, whether in the physical or virtual environment.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biographies

Sarah Bless Sanchez-Maddela, National University. Pasay City, NCR, Philippines

0009-0006-92728-9155; Universidade Nacional. Pasay City, NCR, Filipinas. sarahblesssanchez@gmail.com.

Rosalie Dela Cruz-Cada, Far Eastern University. Manila, NCR, Philippines

0009-0002-6748-4161; Universidade do Extremo Oriente. Manila, NCR, Filipinas. rjdelacruzcada@gmail.com, rcada@feu.edu.ph.

 

References

Agustina, D., Matra, S., & Karimah, S. (n.d.).Challenges of having online learning activities: University students’ perspectives. http://ineltal.um.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Dwi-Agustina-Sarlita-D.-Matra-and-Sayyidatul-Karimah-Challenges-of-Having-Online-Learning-Activities_University-Students%E2%80%99-Perspectives.pdf

American School Counseling Association (2016). ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/f041cbd0-7004-47a5-ba01-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf

Amos, P.M., Bedu-Addo, P.K., & Antwi, T. (2020). Experiences of Online Counseling Among Undergraduates in Some Ghanaian Universities. SAGE Open, 10. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020941844

Ardi, Z., Putra, M. R. M., & Ifdil, I. (2017). Ethics And Legal Issues In Online Counseling Services: Counseling Principles Analysis. Jurnal Psikologi Pendidikan Dan Konseling: Jurnal Kajian Psikologi Pendidikan Dan Bimbingan Konseling, 3(2), 15. https://doi.org/10.26858/jpkk.v0i0.3657

Baloran, Eric T. (2020) Knowledge, Attitudes, Anxiety, and Coping Strategies of Students during COVID-19 Pandemic, Journal of Loss and Trauma, 25:8, 635-642, DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2020.1769300

Code of Ethics for Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselors in the Philippines - Code of Ethics. (n.d.). StuDocu. https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/lipa-city-colleges/psychology/code-of-ethics-for-registered-and-licensed-guidance-counselors-in-the-philippines/5503678

Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2011). Issues and ethics in the helping professions. In Library Catalog (Blacklight) (8th ed). Brooks/Cole. https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9441872

Finlay, Linda & Gough, Brendan. (2008). Reflexivity: A Practical Guide for Researchers in Health and Social Sciences. 10.1002/9780470776094.

Geraldina, A. M., Suen, M., & Suanrueang, P. (2023). Online mental health services during COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: Challenges from psychologist perspective. PLoS One, 18(6) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285490

Hertlein, K. M., Blumer, M. L., & Mihaloliakos, J. H. (2015). Marriage and family counselors’ perceived ethical issues related to online therapy. The Family Journal, 23(1), 5-12. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/1066480714547184

Ifdil, I., Fadli, R. P., Suranata, K., Zola, N., & Ardi, Z. (2020). Online mental health services in Indonesia during the COVID-19 outbreak. Asian journal of psychiatry, 51, 102153. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102153

Joshi, A., Tammana, S., Babre, T., & Kallianpur, R. (2020). Psychosocial response to COVID‐19 pandemic in India: Helpline counselors’ experiences and perspectives. Counseling and Psychotherapy Research, https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12378

Kant, R. (2020). Covid-19 Pandemic: Looking in the mind of students during lockdown. Purakala. UGC CARE J, 31, 508-522. https://doi.org/10.55014/pij.v4i2.5

Kim, N., & Lambie, G. W. (2018). Burnout and Implications for Professional School Counselors. The Professional Counselor, 8(3), 277–294. https://doi.org/10.15241/nk.8.3.277

Knettel, B. A., Luke, M. M., Kiweewa, J. M., Henry, N., Darkis, J. T., Obi, A., & Ojiambo, D. (2020). Stakeholder Perspectives on School-Based Guidance and Counseling in Uganda: Emerging Priorities for Student Support and Teacher Training. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 42(1), 81-96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-019-09390-w

Larkin, M., Watts, S. and Clifton, E., 2006. Giving voice and making sense in interpretative phenomenological analysis. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), pp.102-120. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1191/1478088706qp062oa

McConnell, K. R., Geesa, R. L., Mayes, R. D., & Elam, N. P. (2020). Improving School Counselor Efficacy Through Principal-Counselor Collaboration: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Mid-Western Educational Researcher, 32(2)

Sasangohar, F., Bradshaw, R., Marianne, M. C., Flack, J. N., Fowler, J. C., Freeland, D., Head, J., Marder, K., Orme, W., Weinstein, B., Kolman, J. M., Kash, B., & Madan, A. (2020). Adapting an Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic to Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Practice Perspective. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(10) https://doi.org/10.2196/22523

Villarreal-Davis, C., Sartor, T. A., & McLean, L. (2021) Utilizing Creativity to Foster Connection in Online Counseling Supervision, Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 16:2, 244-257, DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2020.1754989

Zeng, Y., Sun, W., Wang, M., Wei, J., Sun, G., & Hu, J. (2023). The association between online class-related anxiety and academic achievement among undergraduates. Social Behavior and Personality, 51(7), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.12462

Downloads

Published

2024-03-14

How to Cite

Sanchez-Maddela, S. B., & Dela Cruz-Cada, R. (2024). Ethical challenges faced by Philippine public secondary school guidance counselors under the new normal. Diversitas Journal, 9(1_Special). https://doi.org/10.48017/dj.v9iSpecial1.2869