Principles These core values provide the foundation for the ACA ethical principles that will be outlined in this section. The fundamental principles of professional ethical behavior as determined by the ACA are as follows: ● Autonomy, fostering the right to control the direction of one’s life. ● Nonmalfeasance or avoiding actions that cause harm.
● Beneficence, or working for the good of the individual and society by promoting mental health and well-being. ● Justice, treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and equality. ● Fidelity, honoring commitments and keeping promises, including fulfilling one’s responsibilities of trust in professional relationships. ● Veracity, dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come into professional contact. Section B. Confidentiality and Privacy. Counselors recognize that trust is a cornerstone of the counseling relationship. This section provides details in the following areas: ● Respecting client rights ● Multicultural diversity considerations ● Explanation of limitations and exceptions ● Serious and foreseeable harm and legal requirements ● Confidentiality regarding end-of-life decisions ● Contagious, life-threatening diseases. ● Court-ordered disclosure ● Minimal disclosure and release, sharing and transmission of information ● Subordinates and interdisciplinary teams ● Confidential settings
Purpose The ACA Code of Ethics contains the following:
● The code sets forth the ethical obligations of members and provides guidance intended to inform the ethical practice of professional counselors. ● The code identifies ethical considerations relevant to professional counselors and counselors-in-training. ● The code enables the association to clarify for current and prospective members, and for those served by members, the nature of the ethical responsibilities held in common by its members. ● The code serves as an ethical guide designed to assist members in constructing a course of action that best serves those utilizing counseling services and establishes expectations of conduct with a primary emphasis on the role of the professional counselor. ● The code helps to support the mission of ACA. ● The standards contained in the code serve as the basis for processing inquiries and ethics complaints concerning ACA members. The ACA Code of Ethics includes nine sections that serve as a guide to the counselor in the following areas: 1. The counseling relationship 2. Confidentiality and privacy 3. Professional responsibility 4. Relationships with other professionals 5. Evaluation, assessment, and interpretation 6. Supervision, training, and teaching 7. Research and publication 8. Distance counseling, technology, and social media 9. Resolving ethical issues Section A. The Counseling Relationship. Counselors facilitate client growth and development in ways that foster the interest and welfare of clients and promote the formation of healthy relationships. This section covers: ● Client welfare, primary responsibility ● Records and documentation ● Counseling plans ● Support network involvement ● Informed consent in the counseling relationship ● Inability to give consent ● Mandated clients ● Avoiding harm and imposing values ● Prohibited non-counseling roles ● Personal virtual relationships with current clients ● Managing and maintaining boundaries and professional relationships ● Role changes in the professional relationship ● Roles and relationships at individual, group, institutional, and societal levels ● Confidentiality and advocacy ● Multiple clients and group work ● Fees and business practices ● Self-referral ● Unacceptable business practices, bartering, and receiving gifts ● Termination and referral
● Third-party payers ● Deceased clients ● Groups and families ● Clients lacking capacity to give informed ● Permission to record and observe ● Client access, assistance with records ● Storage and disposal after termination ● Case consultation, privacy, and disclosure. ● Parents and legal guardians ● Records and documentation
When addressing a client’s HIV status, counselors may need to determine if they are permitted to disclose a client is HIV positive, especially if the client confides that unsafe sexual activity has occurred. Standard B.2.b of the ACA Code of Ethics addresses contagious, life-threatening diseases as follows: ● B.2.c. Contagious, Life-Threatening Diseases. ○ 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 contracting the disease. Prior to making a disclosure, counselors assess the intent of clients to inform the third parties about their disease or to engage in any behaviors that may be harmful to an identifiable third party. Counselors adhere to relevant state laws concerning disclosure about disease status. Additionally, counselors must refer to state laws regarding disclosure: Some states allow counselors to disclose HIV- positive statuses to identifiable third parties, although the majority may assign this responsibility to medical professionals. Section C. Professional Responsibility. Counselors aspire to open, honest, and accurate communication when dealing with the public and other professionals. The following topics are covered in detail in the code: ● Knowledge and compliance with standards ● Professional competence and boundaries ● New specialty areas of practice and qualifications for employment ● Monitoring effectiveness
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Book Code: PCUS1525
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