Ch 15

The Counsellor’s Professional Ethics

 Introduction
• Every profession has in some
form or other a Code of Ethics
• Profession of psychologists- a
more recent one
• US -> American Psychological
Association has Ethical
Standards of Psychologists

Purpose of this chapter-> to formulate guiding principles of the

Profession of Psychologists
 Meaning of Professional Ethics

A systematized body of moral

principles that guide or
determine the counsellor’s
behavior in his relationships to
the counselee, to the
counselee's relatives, to his
referring agency, and to society
in general
Professional Ethics -> Values that
determine the counsellor’s
behavior
 Values

Religious
Social Values Moral Values Values
•Standards of behavior •Based on dictates of •Based on particular
determined by the right reason- one’s faith & vary according
society conscience to the tenets of that
•Eg. Good manners, •Innate knowledge of faith
traditions such as what is right & wrong •Eg. Hindus value
wedding reception, etc. •Apply to all men Vedas, Jains avoid
•Differ according to •Are objective & killing of animals, Parsis
races, castes, etc. unchangeable value their fire temples,
•Change under •Eg. love parents, not etc.
influence of modern to steal/tell lies
ideas •Based on enduring
nature of human being
 The Counseling Profession
• Aims at helping individuals with their personal
problems
• These problems often involve ethical issues (eg.
Real life case)
• Values influence both the goals of counseling &
the methods & techniques used to reach those
goals
• “The psychologist’s ethical standards & his
professional techniques are inseparable”-
American Psychological Association’s code of
ethics
Counselor’s relationships
 1. Counselor’s relationship to the
Counselee
A) Counselor must respect the values of the
counselee
– Can suggest to change her social values (not the
moral or religious values)
B) Counselor must keep secret the counselee's
confidential material
– May not reveal info to anyone without securing her
permission
– Exceptions: Suicide or crime or for the good of the
counselee (unsound mind), welfare of others
C) Test results must be interpreted to the
counselee in a manner likely to be constructive
in her efforts to solve her problem
 2. Counselor’s relationship to the
Profession
A) Counselor must maintain high standards of work,
not just aim at expedience or temporary success
– Unethical to offer services outside his area of training &
experience or beyond the boundary of his competence
(must refer to a competent person)
– Should not work only for money
B) Should try to rectify the malpractices of other
counselors
– Should not criticize counselors who use other methods
C) Counselor should not accept for counseling a person
who already receiving it from someone else
 3. Counselor’s relationship to
referring bodies
• It is courtesy to inform the referring person or
agency that the counselee kept the
appointment and is continuing counseling or
has been referred to another agency
• No confidential info should be imparted to
them
 4. Counselor’s relationship to
himself
• Right to private life and to relaxation
• May not accept phone calls after certain hour
• Must leave the problems of the counselee in
the office
• Should not encourage dependency
• Should realize that he is not expected to help
each and every counselee
 Counselor’s influence on the
counselee
• Counselor is not to teach a system of values or
philosophy of life (task of parents/ priests)
• Can impress his system of values – influence
more by what he does than by what he says
• Should not condone the unethical course of
behavior of the counselee- express
implications of such actions but should
respect her freedom of choice
 Conclusion
• Counselor should have his own system of
values or philosophy of life
• Act according to the above with the counselee
• Must not impose his views
• Respect her freedom of choice and her values
Thank you