Solving ethical issues first begin with how you experience and perceive the issues at hand. The more you learn about how you react the easier it will be to approach the issue from a grounded place.
Check-in with my intuition, intentions, and personal needs:
I like to know how I react in a situation and what that means for my future decisions. Having a history of good intuition has helped me feel more comfortable with the current choices I make. The more comfortable I am with checking in on my needs, the easier it will be to follow through with my dilemma plan.
Define the ethical issue and the facts at hand:
By determining what the issue is, I can help myself stay on track. Often, I can get distracted by all the information presented. Break the situation down between facts and opinions. I am more prepared to handle the bigger picture by determining the case parts.
I will not be able to control the outcome, but I can do my best to plan accordingly.
Explore the consequences and the stakeholders:
It is essential to determine who will be impacted by my decision. A client affected is different from a colleague needing my support in a difficult situation. How severe are the consequences of my decision?
Identify primary ethical considerations and guidelines:
Returning to the APA ethical guidelines before or after a decision can help us grow as expert decision-makers. The APA ethical guidelines and standards are valuable tools to assist us in psychology ethics. We will always make mistakes; how we learn from them determines our growth. The ethics are aspirational. They encourage us to continue learning, improving, and developing as leaders in the mental health field.
With Intention, Sarafina