| The purpose of the current study was to describe the ethical decision-making processes of employee assistance program (EAP) experts and EAP affiliates when presented with two vignettes depicting dual-client dilemmas. Fourteen participants (8 EAP experts and 6 EAP affiliates) were asked to think aloud as they arrived at decisions for each of the vignettes. The data were studied through three phases of protocol analysis: referring phrase, assertional, and script.;The current study showed that EAP experts and EAP affiliates both engaged in an iterative process of studying known information, questioning gaps in information, explaining their thoughts, and offering decisions when faced with dual-client ethical dilemmas. Concepts considered by both groups throughout this iterative process included information known and information needed about the presenting problem, professional requirements to engage in action or inaction, beneficence to the client and/or others such as the employer, client autonomy, professional practice management, and heuristics. EAP experts appeared better able to cite past examples and experiences to guide their decision-making, and appeared better able to formulate if-then propositions of future actions. Implications exist for EAP experts, EAP affiliates, counselor education, and research. |
