Important Case

Autonomy describes the freedom to make binding and discretionary decisions which are consistent with the scope of practice. A clear understanding of the principle would be imperative in helping me to comprehend the freedom that I posses to choice and action. With the principle in mind then it becomes easier to distinguish and discern the choices that are wrong and those that are right for the client. The concepts of the principles clearly showcase the responsibility that I have as a counselor to appropriately encourage the patient to act upon their own convictions or values or make their own decisions. The concept gives me as the leader reason to explain to the patient the essence of being autonomous but at the same time issue explanations of how their decisions may impinge on other people rights or how they may not be in line with societal values.

Nonetheless this principle would also give me as the professional the right to make decisions that override client's choices especially when they are not of sound mind and thus have little chance of making rational decisions. Therefore in a scenario where the client is not capable of coming up with competent decisions may be since she or he is handicapped mentally or is underage and yet she or he insists on having their decisions followed the principle would allow me stop them from acting on those decisions that would definitely harm them or others.

Furthermore with the principle in mind I would be able to allow the client to have a right to self rule but at the same time protect him from unwanted intrusions (Lewis and Sterling, 2006). In scenarios where I have several reasons to believe that disclosure for instance would result to incapacitation of a client who is severely depressed then in protecting the client the principle would require me to pursue non disclosure.

In addition operationalizing this principle would require that I do not necessarily turn to others for me to know the requisite information that I need to give to the client. Essentially no one apart from me needs to give me the approval to take action or to make decisions based on my assessments. Comprehension of the principle including the education that I have attained from classroom training is enough to allow me to independently interpret the patient's symptoms, initiate, develop and enact therapeutic solutions or care plans. In practice I would be aware that if I consistently support non binding and nondiscretionary decisions then I would not be supporting autonomy and therefore I would have no sense of professional identity and thus may not have the chance to attain self actualization or significantly contribute to practice. Proper understanding of the concept moreover would be imperative in allowing me to comprehend that working collaboratively with other mental health counselors does not preclude me from acting or functioning autonomously. In fact collaboration with others will merely allow me to be better informed to autonomously counsel newly diagnosed clients.

The principle of beneficence reminds me of the moral obligation that I have to purposely act for the benefit of other people, act with kindness, promote goodness and charity. Beneficence simply reflects the responsibility to significantly contribute to the client's welfare when possible.

Nonmaleficence on the other hand implies the ability to abstain or refrain from injuring other persons and furthering their well being by eliminating threats or removing those elements that would result to harm. Inflicting intentional harm or encouraging patients to take up actions that would risk harming other people is thus unethical. It may seem that it is always natural to promote or further good every time but that is not always the case and thus an understanding of these moral principles becomes imperative.

Essentially understanding the concepts would encourage me to undertake only those actions or develop only those care plans that would be imperative to prevent the client from harm or generally be of help in improving his situation (Edwin, 2009). I would refrain from initiating actions that I am aware would cause the patient needless suffering. For example, if I perceive that disclosure