Authenticity in Ethical Decision Making: Reflections for Professional Counselors

Ethical competence, maturity, and autonomy are foundations of good counseling; however, ethical autonomy can be eroded by a risk‐management approach to ethics that tends to constrict counselors' creative responses to dilemmas. This article offers reflections on the notion of authenticity as des...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of humanistic counseling 2016-07, Vol.55 (2), p.99-110
Main Authors: JUNGERS, CHRISTIN M., GREGOIRE, JOCELYN
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
authenticity
autonomy
Counseling
Decision making
ethics
Professional ethics
Risk management
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Summary:Ethical competence, maturity, and autonomy are foundations of good counseling; however, ethical autonomy can be eroded by a risk‐management approach to ethics that tends to constrict counselors' creative responses to dilemmas. This article offers reflections on the notion of authenticity as described by existentialist philosophers Søren Kierkegaard and Martin Heidegger, as a means by which to balance risk‐management and reductionist perspectives on ethics and to foster ethical autonomy. Applications of authenticity to counselors' approach to ethics are suggested, as are limitations of this concept as a stand‐alone framework for decision making.
ISSN:2159-0311
2161-1939
DOI:10.1002/johc.12027