A.6.d.

Role Changes in the Professional Relationship

Role Changes Explanation: Counselors get client consent before changing roles,
explaining potential consequences.
Examples of Role Changes: Changing from individual to family counseling or from an
evaluator to a therapist.

A.6.e. Nonprofessional Interactions or Relationships (Other Than Sexual or

Romantic Interactions or Relationships)
Avoiding Harmful Relationships: Counselors avoid entering into non-professional
relationships with former clients, their romantic partners, or their family members when
the interaction is potentially harmful to the client.

A.7. Roles and Relationships at Individual, Group, Institutional, and Societal Levels
A.7.a. Advocacy
Counselors speak up for their clients when needed, addressing problems at different
levels like individual, group, institutional, and societal.
This is done to remove obstacles that might be getting in the way of clients accessing help
or hindering their personal growth and development.
A.7.b. Confidentiality and Advocacy
Before advocating for a client, counselors get the client's permission.
This ensures the client's confidentiality while working to improve services and remove
barriers that may be blocking their access to help or hindering their growth and
development.
A.8. Multiple Clients
Start: When a counselor helps two or more people who are connected.
Be Clear: Counselor says who they consider as clients and explains the relationships.
Conflict? If there might be problems (like one person wants private sessions), the
counselor talks about it and makes changes if needed.

Clarifying Roles: Counselors clarify roles and relationships when counseling two or more
people with a relationship.

A.9. Group Work

A.9.a. Screening

Counselors assess people who want to join group counseling or therapy. They try to pick
individuals whose needs and goals match the group's objectives. They also aim to choose
members who won't disrupt the group process and whose well-being won't be harmed by
participating.

A.9.b. Protecting Clients

In a group setting, counselors take reasonable precautions to protect clients from
physical, emotional, or psychological trauma.
A.10. Fees and Business Practices
A.10.a. Self-Referral: Counselors working in an organization don't refer clients to
their private practice unless the policies of a particular organization make explicit
provisions for self-referrals. In such instances, the clients must be informed of other
options open to them should they seek private counseling services.

A.10.b. Unacceptable Business Practices: Counselors don't participate in fee splitting or

receive commissions for referring clients.
A.10.c. Establishing Fees: Consider clients' financial status when setting fees and offer
adjustments if needed or assist the client in locating comparable, affordable services.
A.10.d. Nonpayment of Fees: If counselors intend to use collection agencies or take
legal measures to collect fees from clients who do not pay for services as agreed upon,
they include such information in their informed consent documents and also inform
clients in a timely fashion of intended actions and offer clients the opportunity to make
payment.
A.10.e. Bartering: Counselors may barter only if the bartering does not result in
exploitation or harm, if the client requests it, and if such arrangements are an accepted
practice among professionals in the community. Counselors consider the cultural
implications of bartering and discuss relevant concerns with clients and document such
agreements in a clear written contract.
A.10.f. Receiving Gifts: Counselors understand the challenges of accepting gifts from
clients and recognize that in some cultures, small gifts are a token of respect and
gratitude. When determining whether to accept a gift from clients, counselors take into
account the therapeutic relationship, the monetary value of the gift, the client's motivation
for giving the gift, and the counselor's motivation for wanting to accept or decline the gift.
EXAMPLE: Imagine a counselor named Alex. One day, a client gives Alex a small gift
as a gesture of appreciation. Now, Alex has to decide whether to accept it. To make this
decision, Alex thinks about how well they know the client, the value of the gift, why the
client is giving it, and whether there's a good reason for Alex to say yes or no. It's like
weighing all these factors to make sure accepting or declining the gift is the right choice
for both Alex and the client.

A.11. Termination and Referral

A.11.a. Competence Within Termination and Referral: Counselors avoid or end
relationships if they lack competence, suggesting culturally appropriate referrals. If
clients decline the suggested referrals, counselors discontinue the relationship.
A.11.b. Values Within Termination: Avoid referrals based solely on the counselor's
personally held values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Counselors respect the diversity
of clients and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of imposing their values onto
clients, especially when the counselor's values are inconsistent with the client's goals or
are discriminatory in nature.
A.11.c. Appropriate Termination: Counselors terminate a counseling relationship when
it becomes reasonably apparent that the client no longer needs assistance, is not
likely to benefit, or is being harmed by continued counseling. Counselors may
terminate counseling when in jeopardy of harm by the client or by another person with
whom the client has a relationship, or when clients do not pay fees as agreed upon.
Counselors provide pretermination counseling and recommend other service providers
when necessary.
A.11.d. Appropriate Transfer of Services: When counselors transfer or refer clients to
other practitioners, they ensure that appropriate clinical and administrative processes are
completed and open communication is maintained with both clients and practitioners.

A.12. Abandonment and Client Neglect

Avoiding Abandonment: Counselors do not abandon or neglect clients in counseling.
Counselors assist in making appropriate arrangements for the continuation of treatment,
when necessary, during interruptions such as vacations, illness, and following
termination.

Section B Confidentiality and Privacy

Introduction
Counselors recognize that trust is a cornerstone of the counseling relationship.
Counselors aspire to earn the trust of clients by creating an ongoing partnership,
establishing and upholding appropriate boundaries, and maintaining confidentiality.
Counselors communicate the parameters of confidentiality in a culturally competent
manner.

B.1. Respecting Client Rights

B.1.a. Multicultural/Diversity Considerations

Counselors remain aware of cultural perspectives on confidentiality, respecting varying

views on disclosure. Ongoing discussions with clients involve decisions on sharing
information.

B.1.b. Respect for Privacy

Respecting clients' privacy, counselors request private information only when beneficial
to the counseling process.

B.1.c. Respect for Confidentiality

Counselors safeguard client information, disclosing it only with appropriate consent or

ethical justification.

B.1.d. Explanation of Limitations

At the outset and during counseling, counselors inform clients about confidentiality
limitations, identifying situations where confidentiality may need to be breached.

B.2. Exceptions

B.2.a. Serious and Foreseeable Harm and Legal Requirements

Confidentiality exceptions apply when disclosure is essential to prevent harm or meets

legal requirements. Consultation with professionals is sought in uncertain cases.
B.2.b. Confidentiality Regarding End-of-Life Decisions

Confidentiality regarding end-of-life decisions is optional for terminally ill clients,

considering laws and specific circumstances, and consulting with relevant professionals.

B.2.c. Contagious, Life-Threatening Diseases

Disclosure about communicable diseases may be justified when third parties are at risk,
following assessment and adherence to state laws.

B.2.d. Court-Ordered Disclosure

When court-ordered to disclose information, counselors seek client consent whenever

possible, limiting disclosure to minimize harm.

B.2.e. Minimal Disclosure

Clients are informed and involved in decisions about confidential information disclosure,
revealing only essential information when necessary.

B.3. Information Shared With Others

B.3.a. Subordinates

Counselors ensure subordinates maintain client privacy and confidentiality.

B.3.b. Interdisciplinary Teams

Involvement of interdisciplinary teams is communicated to clients, specifying shared

information and purposes.

B.3.c. Confidential Settings

Confidential information is discussed only in settings ensuring client privacy.

B.3.d. Third-Party Payers

Disclosure to third-party payers occurs only with client authorization.

B.3.e. Transmitting Confidential Information

Precautions are taken to maintain confidentiality when transmitting information through

any medium.

B.3.f. Deceased Clients

Confidentiality of deceased clients is protected in accordance with legal requirements and
documented preferences.

B.4. Groups and Families

B.4.a. Group Work

Confidentiality parameters are explained in group work.

B.4.b. Couples and Family Counseling

Confidentiality expectations and agreements are clarified in couples and family

counseling, with documentation when needed.

B.5. Clients Lacking Capacity to Give Informed Consent

B.5.a. Responsibility to Clients

Confidentiality for minor or incapacitated clients is maintained according to laws and

ethical standards.

B.5.b. Responsibility to Parents and Legal Guardians

Parents are informed about the confidential nature of counseling, respecting legal
arrangements and cultural diversity.

B.5.c. Release of Confidential Information

When consent is lacking, counselors seek permission from appropriate third parties for
disclosure, ensuring client understanding.

B.6. Records and Documentation

B.6.a. Creating and Maintaining Records and Documentation

Records necessary for professional services are created and maintained.

B.6.b. Confidentiality of Records and Documentation

Counselors secure records, allowing access only to authorized individuals.

B.6.c. Permission to Record

Client permission is obtained before recording sessions.

B.6.d. Permission to Observe

Client permission is sought before allowing observation of counseling sessions.

B.6.e. Client Access

Reasonable access to records is provided upon client request, with limitations only when
harm is evident.

B.6.f. Assistance With Records

Counselors assist clients in understanding counseling records upon request.

B.6.g. Disclosure or Transfer

Written permission is obtained for the disclosure or transfer of records to third parties,
ensuring sensitivity to confidentiality.

B.6.h. Storage and Disposal After Termination

Records are stored and disposed of in accordance with laws and policies, with careful
consideration of potential legal needs.

B.6.i. Reasonable Precautions

Precautions are taken to protect client confidentiality in the event of counselor

termination, incapacity, or death.

B.7. Case Consultation

B.7.a. Respect for Privacy

Consultation discussions focus on professional purposes, protecting client identity and

privacy.

B.7.b. Disclosure of Confidential Information

In consultations, counselors avoid disclosing identifiable confidential information without

prior consent, sharing only what's necessary for the consultation's purpose.

Section C Professional Responsibility

Counselors aspire to open, honest, and accurate communication in dealing with the public
and other professionals. They practice in a non-discriminatory manner within the
boundaries of professional and personal competence and have a responsibility to abide by
the ACA Code of Ethics. Counselors actively participate in local, state, and national
associations that foster the development and improvement of counseling.
Counselors advocate promoting change at the individual, group, institutional, and societal
levels that improves the quality of life for individuals and groups and remove potential
barriers to the provision or access of appropriate services being offered.

Counselors have a responsibility to the public to engage in counseling practices that are
based on rigorous research methodologies. In addition, counselors engage in self-care
activities to maintain and promote their emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-
being to best meet their professional responsibilities.