Article Summary

Counselors ' Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice

Work Reviewed

American Counseling Association (1995 . Code of ethics and standards of practice . Alexandria , VA : Author

In its Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice ' the American Counseling Association (1995 ) outlines the expected behavior and actions from counselors and psychologists as individual members of the counselling organization . The document provides general guidelines for counseling practitioners in their practice by setting the minimum expectations of the American Counseling Association from its members in terms of handling counseling relationships , confidentiality issues , and other

ethical concerns that arise in the course of the counselor 's interaction with clients , colleagues , organizations , and institutions The American Counseling Association first lays down the ethical framework of counseling practice and subsequently identifies the appropriate conduct and behavior according to the specified issue . Thus the document also serves as a benchmark by which counseling practice may be evaluated against or as a basis for dispensing judgment both on best practice examples and on unethical practice or errors committed by organization members

Through this document , the American Counseling Association emphasizes the responsibility of counselors to their individual clients and society as an overriding concern over self-interest and personal motivations The Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice ' encourages counselors to adopt a critical and reflective attitude towards self-examination for personal biases that either distract or hinder counselors from fully attending to their clients ' needs . The document emphasizes the responsibility of counselors in respecting clients ' rights , especially their rights to disclosure and confidentiality , self-determination , and to non-discriminatory practices . Likewise , the document contains the American Counseling Association 's explicit disapproval of dual-role relationships that often become sources of conflicts of interest for counselors , including sexual intimacy with former clients , as well as the prohibition on participating in any activity that would inflict damage on the client and on other human beings . In the same manner , the document exhorts counselors to be truthful in self-evaluating and reporting their offenses or mistakes to their immediate supervisors , as well as in providing information when the clients ' or other people 's lives are at risk

The American Counseling Association also reiterates counselors obligation to endeavor to continually upgrade their skills and knowledge in to be competent in their practice . Accordingly , counselors must be honest in admitting weaknesses and refuse to carry out tasks and responsibilities that they are not confident they have competence in or they do not have adequate training and education in , such as administering tests or technical evaluation of clients . However counselors must address their perceived skill and knowledge gaps by pursuing continuing education and other learning opportunities

Mutual trust and confidence between the client and the counselor is an important factor in the success of any counseling relationship . As such the counselor must be careful that his or her attitudes and behaviors towards the client reflect an understanding of ethical and competent practice . An inability on the part of the counselor to acknowledge errors in his or her judgment and to resolve...