Which is not one of the four self-tests to consider as a counselor makes an ethical decision?

• A. Do I have enough training to make this decision?
• B. Will this decision cause harm to the client?
• C. Is this decision within my scope of competence?
• D. Will this decision benefit the agency?

Answer: (A)

When counselors face an ethical decision, they use self-tests that focus on protecting the client and following professional standards: would the decision cause harm to the client, is the decision within my scope of competence, would the decision benefit the client, and is the decision aligned with ethical guidelines. The concern “Do I have enough training to make this decision?” is essentially the same issue as competence, and if training is lacking, the proper move is to seek supervision or refer. It isn’t treated as a separate self-test, which is why it isn’t one of the four. The other considerations directly address client welfare and ethical practice, which is why they are the four checks counselors use.