General ACA Questions
2014
When was the most recent ACA Code released?
Clients have the freedom to choose whether to enter into or remain in a counseling relationship and need adequate information about the counseling process and the counselor.
What is informed consent (A.2.a.)?
Counselors discuss confidential information only in settings in which they can reasonably ensure client privacy.
What are Confidential Settings (B.3.c.)?
Counselors work to establish, as appropriate, collaborative relation- ships with parents/guardians to best serve clients.
What are Statements by Others (C.3.c.)?
Counselors are respectful of approaches that are grounded in theory and/or have an empirical or scientific foundation but may differ from their own.
What are Different Approaches (D.1.a.)?
To ease the suffering of those with substance abuse and mental illness.
What is Sunrise's Purpose ?
We value the individual and treat everyone with this.
What is dignity and respect?
The American Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.
What is the mission of the ACA?
When counselors transfer or refer clients to other practitioners, they ensure that appropriate clinical and administra- tive processes are completed and open communication is maintained with both clients and practitioners.
What is Appropriate Transfer of Services (A.11.d.)?
Counselors take precautions to ensure the confidentiality of all information transmitted through the use of any medium.
Counselors are accurate, honest, and objective in reporting their professional activities and judgments to appropriate third parties, including courts, health insurance companies, those who are the recipients of evaluation reports, and others.
What are Reports to Third Parties (C.6.b.)?
Counselors alert their employers of inappropriate policies and practices.
What are Negative Conditions (D.1.h.)?
Every person has value and should be respected for their own sake and treated ethically.
What is Dignity?
We value innovation and forgive mistakes made in its spirit, so long as they do not conflict with our core values and you don't do this.
What is "break anything we can't fix"?
Fostering the right to control the direction of one’s life.
What is autonomy?
Counselors are prohibited from engaging in a personal virtual relationship with individuals with whom they have a current counseling relationship (e.g., through social and other media).
What are Personal Virtual Relationships with Current Clients (A.5.e.)?
Information shared in a consulting relationship is discussed for professional purposes only.
What is Respect for Privacy (B.7.a.)?
When making personal statements in a public context, counselors clarify that they are speaking from their personal perspec- tives and that they are not speaking on behalf of all counselors or the profession.
What are Personal Public Statements (C.8.a.)?
Counselors work to develop and strengthen relationships with colleagues from other disciplines to best serve clients.
What are Forming Relationships (D.1.b.)?
Every person deserves to be treated with courtesy, equity, and fairness and has the right to fully exercise their autonomy.
What is Respect?
We are all in this together. We do not tolerate this attitude.
What is “that’s not my job.”?
Promoting social justice.
What is the third core professional value of the counseling profession?
Counselors and clients regularly review and revise counseling plans to assess their continued viability and effectiveness, respecting clients’ freedom of choice.
What are counseling plans (A.1.c.)?
When clients disclose that they have a disease commonly known to be both communicable and life threatening, counselors may be justified in disclosing information to identifiable third parties, if the parties are known to be at serious and foreseeable risk of con- tracting the disease.
What are Contagious, Life Threatening Diseases (B.2.c.)?
Counselors make a reasonable effort to provide services to the public for which there is little or no financial return (e.g., speaking to groups, sharing professional information, offering reduced fees).
What is Contributing to the Public Good (C.6.e.)?
When counselors are in a position requiring personnel selection and/or assigning of responsibilities to others, they select competent staff and assign responsibilities compatible with their skills and experiences.
What is Personal Selection and Assignment (D.1.f.)?
Great things can be accomplished, and difficult problems solved with teamwork and good community partnership.
What is Collaboration?
We seek excellence in everything we do and strive to exceed industry standards. We do not settle for this.
What is "good enough."?
A professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.
What is counseling?
When clients have difficulty understanding the language that counselors use, counselors provide necessary services (e.g., arranging for a qualified interpreter or translator) to ensure comprehension by clients.
What is Developmental and Cultural Sensitivity (A.2.c.)?
Counselors work to establish, as appropriate, collaborative relationships with parents/guardians to best serve clients.
What is Responsibility to Parents and Legal Guardians (B.5.b.)?
Counselors monitor themselves for signs of impairment from their own physical, mental, or emotional problems and refrain from offering or providing professional services when impaired.
What is Impairment (C.2.g.)?
Counselors use clear and understandable language to inform all parties involved about the purpose of the services to be provided, relevant costs, potential risks and benefits, and the limits of confidentiality.
What is Informed Consent in Formal Consultation (D.2.b.)?
Holding the highest ethical standards, standing by our word, and doing the right thing even when no one is looking leads to superior results and the most satisfying life.
What is Integrity?
These should guide all our thoughts and actions.
what are Compassion, loving kindness, and concern for the greater good?