Ethical decision-making models

When an ethics vignette has no clean answer, examiners don't want you to guess — they want you to show a process. That's what ethical decision-making models give you: a structured, defensible series of steps. And nearly every model shares the same skeleton.

There are several named models — Corey, Corey & Callanan's eight-step model, Welfel's model, and the Forester-Miller & Davis model built directly on the six ACA principles — but the NCE tests the common steps they share more than any single author. The shared sequence generally runs: (1) identify the problem and gather facts; (2) apply the ACA Code of Ethics and relevant laws; (3) determine the nature and dimensions of the dilemma (weigh the six moral principles — autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity, veracity); (4) generate potential courses of action; (5) consider the consequences and choose a course of action; (6) evaluate the selected action (Forester-Miller & Davis's three tests: justice — treat others equitably; publicity — could you defend it in the media?; universality — would you recommend it to another counselor?); (7) implement the course of action; and, throughout, document and consult.

The single most examined idea: consultation is the standard of care. Seeking consultation and supervision when facing an ethical dilemma demonstrates prudent, professional judgment, and documenting that consultation protects both the client and the counselor. On the exam, when an item asks what a counselor should do first or next in an ambiguous ethical situation, options involving consulting the Code, consulting a colleague/supervisor, and documenting are almost always the right direction — never acting impulsively or unilaterally.

Clinical Pearl: Models differ by author, but they share the same backbone — identify the problem, apply the Code and law, weigh the principles, generate and evaluate options, act, and document; above all, consultation is the standard of care, so "consult and document" is the exam-safe move in any ethical dilemma.