Final answer:
Legal and ethical considerations in counseling, such as respecting human rights, are applied by upholding the rights and dignity of clients, guided by principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, as well as legal guidelines like IRB approvals.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the initial stages of counseling, legal and ethical considerations such as human rights are primarily applied by upholding the rights and dignity of the client. This approach aligns with fundamental ethical principles, including autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. These principles necessitate that the counselor respects the client's right to self-determination, informed consent, and confidentiality while striving to benefit the client and avoid harm. Adhering to these ethical guidelines ensures that the counseling process respects individual human rights and upholds ethical standards.
Legal considerations also play a vital role in counseling. They help safeguard the client's welfare and the professional integrity of the counselor. For instance, most universities require case studies involving human subjects to be approved by an institutional review board (IRB), ensuring that research is conducted ethically and responsibly. Codes such as the American Sociological Association's set of ethical principles guide researchers in maintaining rigorous ethical conduct during their work.