Code of Ethics for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists __________________________________
SECTION D. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS
• Client access, assistance with records • Storage and disposal after termination • Case consultation, privacy, and disclosure.
Counselors develop positive working relationships and sys- tems of communication with colleagues to enhance services to clients. This section discusses the following components: • Relationships with colleagues, employers, and employees • Different approaches • Interdisciplinary teamwork • Establishing professional and ethical obligations and confidentiality • Personnel selection and assignment • Employer policies • Protection from punitive action • Provision of consultation services and competency • Informed consent in formal consultation • Contributing to the public good ( pro bono publico )
When addressing a client’s HIV status, counselors may need to determine if they are permitted to disclose that 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 Eth- ics addresses contagious, life-threatening diseases as follows: • 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 dis- closure: 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 communica- tion 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 • Consultations on ethical obligations • Continuing education • Impairment, counselor incapacitation, death, retirement, or termination of practice • Advertising, soliciting clients, testimonials, or products • Recruiting through employment • Professional qualifications, credentials, educational degrees, accreditation status and professional membership • Public responsibility • Reports to third parties • Media presentations
SECTION E. EVALUATION, ASSESSMENT, AND INTERPRETATION
Counselors promote the well-being of individual clients or groups of clients by developing and using appropriate educa- tional, mental health, psychological, and career assessments. • Assessment services and security, scoring, interpretation, and reporting results; • Competence to use and interpret assessment instruments; • Informed consent in assessment; • Release of data to qualified personnel; • Diagnosis of mental disorders; • Referral information; • Technological administration; • Historical and social prejudices in the diagnosis of pathology; • Multicultural issues and diversity in assessment; • Forensic evaluation for legal proceedings; and • Avoid potentially harmful relationships.
SECTION F. SUPERVISION, TRAINING, AND TEACHING
Counselor supervisors, trainers, and educators aspire to foster meaningful and respectful professional relationships and to maintain appropriate boundaries with supervisees and stu- dents in both face-to-face and electronic formats. The code
contains details on the following components: • Counselor supervision and client welfare • Supervisor and student responsibilities • Counselor supervision competence • Emergencies and absences
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