As a future counselor, it is important to have a plan for continued professional growth as well as an understanding of the required counseling dispositions. Additionally, it is considered good practice for addiction counselors to join an addiction counseling organization. Research a professional organization that you might join, such as the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), your state's counseling association, or another relevant professional organization. 

Write a 1,200- to 1,750-word paper in the third person about the ethical and legal considerations of the developing counselor to include professional organizations and a plan for continued professional growth. Include the following in your paper:

Ethical and Legal Viewpoints

1. Beneficence/Stewardship: Describe the ethic of beneficence/stewardship from the perspective of addictions counseling. What might be some specific areas of addictions counseling practice where this ethic would affect your decision-making process?

2. Self-Disclosure: Define professional disclosure. Discuss its benefits and downsides through the ethical lens of professional boundaries, impairment, and personal beliefs.

3. Objectivity: Discuss objectivity from the Scope of Practice and Boundaries of Competence ethics. How are the three related? How can struggles in Scope of Practice and Boundaries of Competence result in failing to see clients clearly?

4. Self-Monitoring: How can counselors prevent professional burnout?

5. Spirituality: How can counselors maintain spirituality in and out of practice?

6. Counseling Dispositions: A review of three counseling dispositions as well as an analysis in regards to personal strengths and challenges in regards to the selected dispositions.

Professional Organization Review

Write a professional organization overview that includes the following:

1. Current issues addressed by the organization that are relevant to the counseling profession. Note: These items are usually listed on the association's website, but you may research elsewhere for one or two current issues in the field. Examples of current issues could include lobbying efforts for particular populations or specialties in the field, proposed or changing laws/regulations, high-profile court cases involving ethical violations, or the like.

When writing the paper, consider the following level-one APA headings to help organize the content:

1. Ethical and Legal Viewpoints

2. Professional Organization Review

Include a comprehensive reference page that lists the sources used at the end of the document. The paper should be written in the third person. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

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