Foundations of the ACA Code of Ethics
The following are:
Section A: The Counseling Relationship
Section B: Confidentiality and Privacy
Section C: Professional Responsibility
Section D: Relationships with Other Professionals
Section E: Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation
Section F: Supervision, Training, and Teaching
Section G: Research and Publication
Section H: Distance Counseling, Technology, and Social Media
Section I: Resolving Ethical Issues
What are the sections of the ACA Code of Ethics
Clients have the right to know what the counseling process entails that include:
The purposes, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks, and benefits
of services
The counselor’s qualifications, credentials, and experience
How the services will be continued should the counselor die or become incapacitated
The implications of diagnosis
The intended use of tests or assessments
Fees and billing
The right to know the limitation of confidentiality
To obtain clear information about their records and to participate in treatment planning
What is informed consent
According to the ACA Code of Ethics, trustworthiness is definedas : “trust is the cornerstone of the counseling relationship, and
counselors have the responsibility to respect and safeguard the client’s right to privacy and confidentiality
What is Section A of the ACA Code of Ethics
This is when counselors are expected to be able to set aside their own beliefs, values,
and worldview when working with a diverse client population.
What is ethcial bracketing
This is the legal age of mental health care consent in the State of Pennsylvania
What is 14 years of age
Communicate to members and the public, the professional identity and commonly held values and principles of the profession, the norms
and expectations for practitioners, and the “normative orientation to the service of others and commitment to protect the welfare of
clients” (Francis & Dugger, 2014, p. 131).
Educate members about sound ethics and guide our work
Provide a mechanism for professional accountability
Guide for improving practice
What is ethics codes of organizations
Before each individual agrees to participate in family therapy, it is
imperative that the family counselor provide information
regarding the purpose of therapy, procedures that may be used,
the potential benefits and risks, the fee structure, the rights and responsibilities of each family member, what can be expected
from the counselor, and the limitations of confidentiality.
What is informed consent with families
This section is devoted to confidentiality
What is Section B of the Code of Ethics
“Counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination...based
on age, culture, disability, ethnicity, race, partnership status,
language preference, socioeconomic status, immigration status, or
any basis proscribed by law”
What is Standard C.5 of the ACA Code of Ethics
These are the 3 tests to evaluate the plan of action for making an ethical decision
What are justice, publicity, and universality
These are autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity, and veracity
What are the Six Moral Principles
This needs to be revisited every session as well as in the beginning of the group being formed
What is informed consent with groups
Sharing Information to Improve Services to Clients
To protect someone in danger (client or others)
When counseling groups or families
Counseling minors
Official court order
What are the exceptions to confidentiality
This is when “counselors must develop multicultural
competency in working with a diverse client population” (Standard
C2.a)
This is multicultural competence
This is required for all counseling students as they begiin the practice of counseling
What is regular supervision
Identify the Problem
Examine the relevant codes of ethics and professional literature
Consider the moral principles of autonomy, nonmaleficence,
beneficence, justice, fidelity, and veracity.
Consult with colleagues, supervisors, or experts
Attend to your emotions
Involve your client in the decision-making process
Consider the cultural context
Identify desired outcomes and generate potential courses of
action
Consider the potential consequences of all options and determine
a course of action
Evaluate the selected course of action
Implement the course of action
What is Elements of Ethical Decision Making (starts on page 20 in textbook)
This involves promoting access and equity to ensure full participation in the life of a society, particularly for those who have been systematically excluded on the basis of race/ethnicity, gender, age, physical or mental disability, education, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics of background or
group membership
What is social justice
This is
Clerical staff that might be handling client paperwork
Consultation with other counseling peers or experts
Supervision
Other professionals involved with coordinating client care
Other mental health professionals or others client has requested
information be shared
What is Sharing Information to Improve
Services to Clients
This is referring a client due to a value conflict
What is a a discriminatory referral,
which is unethical
This is a good idea to do when a professional counselor is in a situation that is potentially an ethical issue
What is supervision/consultation
Professional counselors can belong to this national organization and have access to free ethcial consults
What is the American Counseling Association (ACA)
This implies that counselors have a moral and professional responsibility to
address profound social, cultural, and economic challenges that have the potential to
negatively impact/influence psychosocial development.
What is social justice in counseling
This is
If a client is suicidal or homicidal
Suspected abuse of a child, elderly person, a resident of an
institution or other vulnerable individuals that have limited ability
to care for themselves
Counselors are mandated reporters
What is duty to warn
ACA Code of Ethics states that counselors have an ethical
obligation to practice “only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials and
appropriate professional experience” (Standard C.2.a)
What is competence
This is engaging in a relationship with a client outside of the professional counseling relationship
What is a dual relationship