What is the first step in the Ethical Decision-Making (EDM) process?

Identifying if an ethical issue exists is the crucial initial step in the Ethical Decision-Making (EDM) process because it sets the foundation for the entire decision-making journey. Before any action can be taken, it's essential to recognize that there is an ethical dilemma or concern that needs to be addressed. This involves analyzing the situation to determine whether it poses potential ethical implications for clients, the counselor, or the profession as a whole.

Once this identification occurs, counselors can then proceed to gather relevant information, consult ethical guidelines, evaluate their options, and ultimately arrive at a decision that aligns with ethical standards. By starting with a clear understanding of the ethical issue at hand, the counselor ensures that the subsequent steps in the EDM process are grounded in a proper framework, leading to informed and ethical outcomes in practice.