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Multiple Choice

Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that means?

Nonmaleficence means not causing harm. In counseling practice, this principle guides you to avoid actions or interventions that could injure a client, and to carefully weigh risks and potential harms before proceeding. It’s about minimizing harm and ensuring that efforts to help do not create unnecessary danger, pain, or suffering. This contrasts with beneficence, which is about actively promoting the client’s well-being; autonomy, which centers on respecting the client’s right to make their own choices; and confidentiality, which protects private information. A practical application is choosing the safest, evidence-based approach and monitoring for adverse effects, obtaining informed consent so clients understand risks, and avoiding coercive or harmful practices.

Nonmaleficence means not causing harm. In counseling practice, this principle guides you to avoid actions or interventions that could injure a client, and to carefully weigh risks and potential harms before proceeding. It’s about minimizing harm and ensuring that efforts to help do not create unnecessary danger, pain, or suffering. This contrasts with beneficence, which is about actively promoting the client’s well-being; autonomy, which centers on respecting the client’s right to make their own choices; and confidentiality, which protects private information. A practical application is choosing the safest, evidence-based approach and monitoring for adverse effects, obtaining informed consent so clients understand risks, and avoiding coercive or harmful practices.