A committee was formed to identify ethical issues to effectively guide psychologists’ practice. It covered concepts that included the psychologists’ responsibilities when treating clients, training students, and consulting colleagues as well as ethical research practices (Hobbs, 1948). Throughout the years, other mental health organizations developed codes of ethics and enacted subsequent revisions to address the continuing changes in society and the needs of their clients. The ACA can trace its roots to 1952 when independent member associations held a joint convention. These associations included the National Vocational Guidance Association (NVGA); the National Association of Guidance and Counselor Trainers (NAGCT); the Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education (SPATE); and the American College Personnel Association. They established the American Personnel and Guidance Association (APGA) to form a professional group that united all counselors. A Code of Ethics was first developed and adopted in 1963. In 1983, the association adopted the name American Association of Counseling and Development. It was changed again on July 1, 1992, to the American Counseling Association (ACA). This new membership association unified the various counseling professions into one entity that reflected shared goals, purpose, and commitment to ethical practice. The ACA developed a professional Code of Ethics that has been adopted by licensing boards who use the code as the basis in counseling decision-making on ethical issues. The ACA Code has been revised every 7 to 10 years: The recent revision adopted in 2014 replaces the 2005 edition. The American Counseling Association now services professional counselors in the United States and in 50 other countries in Europe and Latin America, as well as the
Philippines and the Virgin Islands. In addition, the ACA is associated with a comprehensive network of 19 divisions and 56 branches (ACA, 2023). The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) was founded in 1942 to address the needs and changing demands of couples and family relationships. This membership association supports research and provides education, tools, and resources to provide effective services in the field of marriage and family therapy. The AAMFT’s goal is to ensure that trained, ethical professionals meet the needs of clients and society. This association is now the professional membership association for the field of marriage and family therapy, with more than 50,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada, and around the world. The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates (NBCC) is a not-for-profit, independent certification organization that was established in 1982 (NBCC, 2023a). The organization was founded to create a voluntary national certification system and to identify certified counselors by maintaining a registry of membership. Since then, NBCC divisions and affiliates have expanded their commitment to include advancement of the profession with the goal of improving mental health around the world. Today, there are more than 69,000 National Certified Counselors (NCCs) in more than 40 countries. These counselors volunteer to obtain certification through a rigorous program to achieve national standards, set by the profession, based on research, written dissertations, and examinations. Certified NCCs are encouraged to mentor other counselors to improve their practice and obtain certification as an NCC. NCCs may be members of associations such as ACA and AAMFT, depending on their area of expertise.
FOUNDATIONS AND SHARED BELIEFS
Trust appears to be the common thread throughout ethical counseling and marriage and family therapy practice. Therapists, patients, and students view trust as fundamental to psychotherapy (Allen, 2021). One shared belief among therapists and counselors is that professionals must do the right thing and make ethical decisions that are in the best interest of the client. The counselor–client relationship impacts ethical decision making and must consider the cultural context of the professional relationship along with ethical principles. The structure of common therapeutic relationship factors includes confidence in the therapist and confidence in the treatment plan, which is built on trust (Finsrud et al., 2022). Confidentiality is essential in developing an effective relationship between mental health practitioners and their clients. Research supports the ethical principle in counseling and therapy that asserts effective practice is based on trust and confidentiality between the practitioner and client. The client may approach a counselor or therapist feeling vulnerable and seeking assistance in times of crisis. The client may be fearful, ashamed, or unwilling to share feelings at first. If the client believes that the information shared will be kept confidential, there is a greater possibility of developing an effective collaborative relationship with the therapist and a positive outcome for the client.
Over the last decade, ethical issues faced by counselors have received increased attention in counseling literature, and no area of study is more important in the practice of counseling (Cottone et al.,2021). Counselors are often confronted with situations that require sound ethical decision-making. Determining the appropriate course of action when faced with difficult ethical conflicts can be challenging and should never be done in isolation. Codes of conduct are designed to protect clients and society. Counselors and therapists encounter ethical issues and challenges that require complex decisions, and they must be familiar with the ethical codes for their association. They must know what areas and issues are problematic to avoid potential risks of ethical violations that may harm clients and families. Ethics in counseling and therapy focuses on ideals rather than obligatory rules. It emphasizes professionals’ character and their relationships with their clients. The study of ethics is more than solving a specific ethical or legal dilemma. Although ethics codes speak to many issues, the counselor must recognize that codes are broad and do not cover every ethical issue faced by counselors and therapists. The professional’s ethical awareness, behavior, and problem- solving skills will determine how they translate and apply these general guidelines to professional practice. Ethics codes do not provide explicit instructions for every possible situation.
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Book Code: PCUS1525
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