Comparison

between
ACA & APA
ACA contains extensive requirements and prohibitions
relating to therapeutic relationships
APA is more general with a principle-driven approach

APA indicates that a psychologist is not allowed to withhold a

client’s records due to non-payment if there is an emergency
ACA ethical code does indicate this matter

APA: a psychologist must refrain from engaging in a sexual

relationship with a past client for at least two years after the
counseling relationship has ended
ACA: A counselor must refrain from engaging in a sexual and/or
romantic relationship with a past client for at least five years
ACA: a counselor must disclose the purpose and nature of
assessment
APA: lists occasions when a psychologist does not have to
do so (Ex. when assessment is court-mandated)

ACA: a counselor may refrain from making a diagnosis or

reporting a diagnosis if it is in the best interest of the client
APA: ethical does not address this issue

ACA: "requested" therapy

APA: "required" therapy
Ethical
Issues in
Counseling
Practice
An ethical practitioner is more
than a follower of rules.
mandatory ethics: involves a level of ethical
functioning at the minimum level of professional practice

aspirational ethics: focuses on doing what is in the best

interests of clients

fear-based ethics does not constitute sound ethical practice

 Putting Clients’ Needs Before Your Own

Professional relationships with

clients exist for their benefit
Counselors should be aware of their:
“Whose needs are being met in this
• needs
relationship, my client’s or my own?”
• areas of unfinished business
• potential personal problems
• sources of countertransference an ethical problem exists when a
counselor’s needs are met at the
expense of their clients’ needs
such factors could interfere with
effectively and ethically serving clients
 Putting Clients’ Needs Before Your Own

Certain blind spots and distortions of reality

• actively work toward expanding self-awareness
• learn to recognize areas of prejudice and vulnerability

Less obviously harmful personal needs that interfere with

growth-producing relationships:
• the need for control and power
• the need to be nurturing
• the need to change others in the direction of our own values
• the need for feeling adequate
• the need to be respected and appreciated
 Ethical Decision Making
• application of ethics code of a profession to practical problems
• making ethical decisions can be a joint effort
⚬ learn about the resources available to you
⚬ consult with colleagues
⚬ keep yourself informed about laws affecting your practice
⚬ keep up to date in your specialty field
⚬ stay abreast of developments in ethical practice
⚬ reflect on the impact your values have on your practice
⚬ be willing to engage in honest self-examination
 Ethical Decision Making
The role of ethics codes as a catalyst for improving practice

Best ways to prevent being sued for malpractice is to:

Professional codes of ethics serve
• demonstrate respect for clients
several purposes:
• keep client welfare as a central concern
• educate counseling practitioners and
• practice within the framework of professional code
the general public about the
responsibilities of the profession
• provide a basis for accountability
No code of ethics can delineate the best course of action
• protect clients from unethical practices
• best used as guidelines
• provide a basis for reflecting on and
• to formulate sound reasoning
improving your professional practice
• make the best judgments possible
 Ethical Decision Making
Some steps in making ethical decisions

• identify the problem or dilemma

• identify the potential issues
• look at the relevant ethics codes for general guidance on the matter
• consider the applicable laws and regulations
• seek consultation from more than one source to obtain various
perspectives on the dilemma
• brainstorm various possible courses of action
• enumerate the consequences of various decisions
• decide on what appears to be the best possible course of action
The Right of Informed Consent

informed consent: an ethical and legal requirement

that is an integral part of the therapeutic process.

establishes a foundation for creating a working

alliance and a collaborative partnership between the
client and the therapist
The Right of Informed Consent

provides clients with information they need to make informed choices

• promotes the active cooperation of clients in their counseling plan
• a positive approach that helps clients become active partners and
true collaborators in their therapy
 The Right of Informed Consent
some aspects of the informed consent process include:
• the general goals of counseling
• the responsibilities of the counselor toward the client
• the responsibilities of clients
• the limitations of and exceptions to confidentiality
• the legal and ethical parameters
• that could define the relationship
• the qualifications and background of the practitioner
• the fees involved
• the services the client can expect
• the approximate length of the therapeutic process
The Right of Informed Consent

client’s privacy through modern-day technology

• give careful thought to the subtle ways client privacy can be
compromised
• discussing the potential privacy problems of using technology and
taking preventive measures to protect both you and your clients.
 The Right of Informed Consent

informed consent in counseling can be provided in written or oral form

oral form: therapists must make an entry in the client’s clinical

record documenting the nature and extent of informed consent

written form: provides basic information about the therapy process

• protects both clients and therapists and enables clients to think about
the information and bring up questions at the following session
 Dimensions of Confidentiality
confidentiality: an ethical concept; the legal duty of
therapists not to disclose information about a client.
• central to developing a trusting and productive
client-therapist relationship
• responsibility of defining the degree of
confidentiality that can be promised

privileged communication: a legal concept; protects

clients from having their confidential communications
revealed in court without their permission.
• does not apply to group counseling, couples
counseling, family therapy, child and adolescent
therapy, or whenever there are more than two
people in the room.
 Dimensions of Confidentiality

• counselors have an ethical and legal

responsibility to discuss the nature and purpose
of confidentiality with their clients early in the
counseling process
• clients have a right to know that their therapist
may be discussing certain details of the
relationship with a supervisor or a colleague
 Ethical Issues from a
Multicultural Perspective
• ethical practice requires that we take the client’s cultural
context into account in counseling practice
• individuals are best understood by taking into consideration
salient cultural and environmental variables
• creating therapeutic strategies that are congruent with the
range of values and behaviors that are characteristic of a
pluralistic society
 Ethical Issues from a
Multicultural Perspective
cultural diversity is a fact of life in our world
• understand and accept clients who have a different set of
assumptions about life
• alert to the possibility of imposing their own worldview
• counselors should resist making value judgments for people
with different cultural backgrounds
• being mindful of diversity and social justice issues
References:
Corey, G. (2017). Theory and practice of counseling and
psychotherapy (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Firmin, M. W., DeWitt, K., Zurlinden, T. E., Smith, L. A., &

Shell, A. L. (2019). Differences in competency and
qualification requirements between APA and ACA code of
ethics. Journal of Integrated Social Sciences, 9(1), 39-56.