ABSTRACT
Ethical principles and standards are determined by the specific roles and responsibilities of each occupation and are designed to provide a knowledge base, describe activities sanctioned by the respective profession, and offer a clear picture of the boundaries of the professional activity. Canadian provinces and territories and each of the American states have specific guidelines and regulations with respect to working with minors, informed consent, and assent. Minors may be youth under the age of 16 or 18 years of age, thus helping professionals must be informed regarding the guidelines in their own jurisdiction. Within any helping profession where interpersonal interactions occur, natural work-related consequences can develop as a result of these interactions. Add in the emotionally laden elements of death and grief, and the effect on practitioners can become even more evident. S. Smullens noted how burnout can affect four different, interconnected, areas in one's life: professional, personal, social, and physical.
