code of ethics

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ACA
Code of Ethics
As approved by the ACA Governing Council
A
MERICAN
C
OUNSELING
A
SSOCIATION
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2
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© 2014 by the American Counseling Association.
All rights reserved.
Note:
 This document may be reproduced in its entirety without permission for non-commercial
purposes only.
ACA Code of Ethics
 Preamble
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3
ACA Code of Ethics
 Purpose
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3
Section A
The Counseling Relationship
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4
Section B
Confidentiality and Privacy
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6
Section C
Professional Responsibility
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8
Section D
Relationships With Other Professionals
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10
Section E
Evaluation, Assessment, and
Interpretation
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11
Section F
Supervision, Training, and Teaching
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12
Section G
Research and Publication
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15
Section H
Distance Counseling, Technology,
and Social Media
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17
Section I
Resolving Ethical Issues
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18
Glossary of Terms
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20
Index
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21
Mission
The mission of the American Counseling Association
is to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting
the development of professional counselors, advancing
the counseling profession, and using the profession and
practice of counseling to promote respect for human
dignity and diversity.
Contents
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ACA Code of Ethics
 Purpose
The
ACA Code of Ethics
 serves six main purposes:
1.
The
Code
 sets forth the ethical obligations of ACA members and provides guidance intended to inform the ethical
practice of professional counselors.
2.
The
Code
 identifies ethical considerations relevant to professional counselors and counselors-in-training.
3.
The
Code
 enables the association to clarify for current and prospective members, and for those served by members,
the nature of the ethical responsibilities held in common by its members.
4.
The
Code
 serves as an ethical guide designed to assist members in constructing a course of action that best serves
those utilizing counseling services and establishes expectations of conduct with a primary emphasis on the role of
the professional counselor.
5.
The
Code
 helps to support the mission of ACA.
6.
The standards contained in this
Code
 serve as the basis for processing inquiries and ethics complaints
concerning ACA members.
The
ACA Code of Ethics
 contains nine main sections that ad-
dress the following areas:
Section A:
The Counseling Relationship
Section B:
Confidentiality and Privacy
Section C:
Professional Responsibility
Section D:
Relationships With Other Professionals
Section E:
Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation
Section F:
Supervision, Training, and Teaching
Section G:
Research and Publication
Section  H:
Distance  Counseling,  Technology,  and
Social Media
Section I:
Resolving Ethical Issues
Each  section  of  the
ACA  Code  of  Ethics
  begins  with  an
introduction. The introduction to each section describes the
ethical behavior and responsibility to which counselors aspire.
The introductions help set the tone for each particular sec-
tion and provide a starting point that invites reflection on the
ethical standards contained in each part of the
ACA Code of
Ethics
. The standards outline professional responsibilities and
provide direction for fulfilling those ethical responsibilities.
When  counselors  are  faced  with  ethical  dilemmas  that
are difficult to resolve, they are expected to engage in a care-
fully considered ethical decision-making process, consulting
available  resources  as  needed.  Counselors  acknowledge
that resolving ethical issues is a process; ethical reasoning
includes consideration of professional values, professional
ethical principles, and ethical standards.
Counselors’ actions should be consistent with the spirit
as well as the letter of these ethical standards. No specific
ethical decision-making model is always most effective, so
counselors are expected to use a credible model of deci-
sion making that can bear public scrutiny of its applica-
tion. Through a chosen ethical decision-making process
and evaluation of the context of the situation, counselors
work collaboratively with clients to make decisions that
promote clients’ growth and development. A breach of the
standards and principles provided herein does not neces-
sarily constitute legal liability or violation of the law; such
action is established in legal and judicial proceedings.
The glossary at the end of the
Code
 provides a concise
description  of  some  of  the  terms  used  in  the
ACA  Code
of Ethics
.
ACA Code of Ethics
 Preamble
The American Counseling Association (ACA) is an educational, scientific, and professional organization whose members
work in a variety of settings and serve in multiple capacities. Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse
individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.
Professional values are an important way of living out an ethical commitment. The following are core professional values
of the counseling profession:
1.
enhancing human development throughout the life span;
2.
honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential, and
uniqueness of people within their social and cultural contexts;
3.
promoting social justice;
4.
safeguarding the integrity of the counselor–client relationship; and
5.
practicing in a competent and ethical manner.
These professional values provide a conceptual basis for the ethical principles enumerated below. These principles are
the foundation for ethical behavior and decision making. The fundamental principles of professional ethical behavior are
•
autonomy
, or fostering the right to control the direction of one’s life;
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nonmaleficence
, or avoiding actions that cause harm;
•
beneficence
, or working for the good of the individual and society by promoting mental health and well-being;
•
justice
, or treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and equality;
•
fidelity
, or honoring commitments and keeping promises, including fulfilling one’s responsibilities of trust in
professional relationships; and
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veracity
, or dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come into professional contact.
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A.2.c.
Developmental and
Cultural Sensitivity
Counselors communicate information
in ways that are both developmentally
and culturally appropriate. Counselors
use clear and understandable language
when  discussing  issues  related  to
informed  consent.  When  clients  have
difficulty understanding the language
that counselors use, counselors provide
necessary services (e.g., arranging for
a  qualified  interpreter  or  translator)
to  ensure  comprehension  by  clients.
In  collaboration  with  clients,  coun-
selors  consider  cultural  implications
of  informed  consent  procedures  and,
where possible, counselors adjust their
practices accordingly.
A.2.d. Inability to Give Consent
When  counseling  minors,  incapaci-
tated adults, or other persons unable
to give voluntary consent, counselors
seek  the  assent  of  clients  to  services
and include them in decision making
as appropriate. Counselors recognize
the need to balance the ethical rights
of clients to make choices, their capac-
ity to give consent or assent to receive
services, and parental or familial legal
rights  and  responsibilities  to  protect
these  clients  and  make  decisions  on
their behalf.
A.2.e. Mandated Clients
Counselors  discuss  the  required
limitations  to  confidentiality  when
working  with  clients  who  have  been
mandated  for  counseling  services.
Counselors  also  explain  what  type
of  information  and  with  whom  that
information  is  shared  prior  to  the
beginning  of  counseling.  The  client
may choose to refuse services. In this
case,  counselors  will,  to  the  best  of
their  ability,  discuss  with  the  client
the potential consequences of refusing
counseling services.
A.3. Clients Served by Others
When counselors learn that their clients
are  in  a  professional  relationship  with
other mental health professionals, they
request  release  from  clients  to  inform
the  other  professionals  and  strive  to
establish  positive  and  collaborative
professional relationships.
A.4. Avoiding Harm and
Imposing Values
A.4.a. Avoiding Harm
Counselors act to avoid harming their
clients,  trainees,  and  research  par
-
ticipants and to minimize or to remedy
unavoidable or unanticipated harm.
A.1.d.
Support Network
Involvement
Counselors  recognize  that  support
networks  hold  various  meanings  in
the  lives  of  clients  and  consider  en-
listing  the  support,  understanding,
and involvement of others (e.g., reli-
gious/spiritual/community  leaders,
family  members,  friends)  as  positive
resources,  when  appropriate,  with
client consent.
A.2. Informed Consent
in the Counseling
        Relationship
A.2.a. Informed Consent
Clients  have  the  freedom  to  choose
whether  to  enter  into  or  remain  in
a  counseling  relationship  and  need
adequate  information  about  the
counseling process and the counselor.
Counselors have an obligation to re-
view in writing and verbally with cli-
ents the rights and responsibilities of
both counselors and clients. Informed
consent  is  an  ongoing  part  of  the
counseling  process,  and  counselors
appropriately document discussions
of  informed  consent  throughout  the
counseling relationship.
A.2.b.
Types of Information
Needed
Counselors explicitly explain to clients
the  nature  of  all  services  provided.
They inform clients about issues such
as,  but  not  limited  to,  the  follow-
ing:  the  purposes,  goals,  techniques,
procedures,  limitations,  potential
risks,  and  benefits  of  services;  the
counselor’s qualifications, credentials,
relevant experience, and approach to
counseling;  continuation  of  services
upon  the  incapacitation  or  death  of
the  counselor;  the  role  of  technol-
ogy; and other pertinent information.
Counselors  take  steps  to  ensure  that
clients understand the implications of
diagnosis and the intended use of tests
and reports. Additionally, counselors
inform  clients  about  fees  and  billing
arrangements,  including  procedures
for nonpayment of fees. Clients have
the  right  to  confidentiality  and  to  be
provided  with  an  explanation  of  its
limits  (including  how  supervisors
and/or treatment or interdisciplinary
team  professionals  are  involved),  to
obtain  clear  information  about  their
records, to participate in the ongoing
counseling  plans,  and  to  refuse  any
services  or  modality  changes  and  to
be  advised  of  the  consequences  of
such refusal.
Section A
The Counseling
Relationship
Introduction
Counselors  facilitate  client  growth
and  development  in  ways  that  foster
the  interest  and  welfare  of  clients  and
promote formation of healthy relation-
ships.  Trust  is  the  cornerstone  of  the
counseling relationship, and counselors
have  the  responsibility  to  respect  and
safeguard  the  client’s  right  to  privacy
and confidentiality. Counselors actively
attempt to understand the diverse cul-
tural  backgrounds  of  the  clients  they
serve. Counselors also explore their own
cultural identities and how these affect
their values and beliefs about the coun-
seling process. Additionally, counselors
are encouraged to contribute to society
by  devoting  a  portion  of  their  profes-
sional activities for little or no financial
return (
pro bono publico
).
A.1. Client Welfare
A.1.a. Primary Responsibility
The primary responsibility of counsel-
ors is to respect the dignity and promote
the welfare of clients.
A.1.b.
Records and
Documentation
Counselors  create,  safeguard,  and
maintain  documentation  necessary
for  rendering  professional  services.
Regardless of the medium, counselors
include  sufficient  and  timely  docu-
mentation to facilitate the delivery and
continuity  of  services.  Counselors
take  reasonable  steps  to  ensure  that
documentation  accurately  reflects  cli-
ent  progress  and  services  provided.
If  amendments  are  made  to  records
and  documentation,  counselors  take
steps to properly note the amendments
according  to  agency  or  institutional
policies.
A.1.c. Counseling Plans
Counselors  and  their  clients  work
jointly  in  devising  counseling  plans
that  offer  reasonable  promise  of
success  and  are  consistent  with  the
abilities, temperament, developmental
level,  and  circumstances  of  clients.
Counselors  and  clients  regularly  re-
view  and  revise  counseling  plans  to
assess  their  continued  viability  and
effectiveness, respecting clients’ free-
dom of choice.
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A.4.b.
Personal Values
Counselors are aware of—and avoid
imposing—their own values, attitudes,
beliefs,  and  behaviors.  Counselors
respect the diversity of clients, train-
ees,  and  research  participants  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 discrimina
-
tory in nature.
A.5.
 Prohibited
Noncounseling Roles
and Relationships
A.5.a.
Sexual and/or
Romantic Relationships
Prohibited
Sexual  and/or  romantic  counselor–
client interactions or relationships with
current clients, their romantic partners,
or their family members are prohibited.
This  prohibition  applies  to  both  in-
person  and  electronic  interactions  or
relationships.
A.5.b.
Previous Sexual and/or
Romantic Relationships
Counselors are prohibited from engag-
ing  in  counseling  relationships  with
persons  with  whom  they  have  had
a  previous  sexual  and/or  romantic
relationship.
A.5.c.
Sexual and/or Romantic
Relationships With
Former Clients
Sexual  and/or  romantic  counselor–
client interactions or relationships with
former clients, their romantic partners,
or their family members are prohibited
for a period of 5 years following the last
professional  contact.  This  prohibition
applies to both in-person and electronic
interactions  or  relationships.  Counsel-
ors,  before  engaging  in  sexual  and/or
romantic  interactions  or  relationships
with  former  clients,  their  romantic
partners, or their family members, dem-
onstrate forethought and document (in
written form) whether the interaction or
relationship can be viewed as exploitive
in any way and/or whether there is still
potential  to  harm  the  former  client;  in
cases  of  potential  exploitation  and/or
harm,  the  counselor  avoids  entering
into such an interaction or relationship.
A.5.d.
Friends or Family
Members
Counselors are prohibited from engaging
in counseling relationships with friends
or family members with whom they have
an inability to remain objective.
A.5.e.
Personal Virtual
Relationships With
Current Clients
Counselors  are  prohibited  from
engaging  in  a  personal  virtual  re-
lationship  with  individuals  with
whom they have a current counseling
relationship (e.g., through social and
other media).
A.6.
Managing and
Maintaining Boundaries
and Professional
        Relationships
A.6.a.
Previous Relationships
Counselors  consider  the  risks  and
benefits  of  accepting  as  clients  those
with  whom  they  have  had  a  previous
relationship.  These  potential  clients
may  include  individuals  with  whom
the counselor has had a casual, distant,
or past relationship. Examples include
mutual  or  past  membership  in  a  pro-
fessional  association,  organization,  or
community.  When  counselors  accept
these clients, they take appropriate pro-
fessional precautions such as informed
consent, consultation, supervision, and
documentation to ensure that judgment
is  not  impaired  and  no  exploitation
occurs.
A.6.b.
Extending Counseling
Boundaries
Counselors  consider  the  risks  and
benefits  of  extending  current  counsel-
ing  relationships  beyond  conventional
parameters.  Examples  include  attend-
ing  a  client’s  formal  ceremony  (e.g.,  a
wedding/commitment  ceremony  or
graduation),  purchasing  a  service  or
product provided by a client (excepting
unrestricted bartering), and visiting a cli-
ent’s ill family member in the hospital. In
extending these boundaries, counselors
take  appropriate  professional  precau-
tions such as informed consent, consul-
tation, supervision, and documentation
to ensure that judgment is not impaired
and no harm occurs.
A.6.c.
Documenting Boundary
Extensions
If  counselors  extend  boundaries  as
described  in  A.6.a.  and  A.6.b.,  they
must  officially  document,  prior  to  the
interaction (when feasible), the rationale
for  such  an  interaction,  the  potential
benefit,  and  anticipated  consequences
for the client or former client and other
individuals significantly involved with
the  client  or  former  client.  When  un-
intentional  harm  occurs  to  the  client
or  former  client,  or  to  an  individual
significantly  involved  with  the  client
or  former  client,  the  counselor  must
show evidence of an attempt to remedy
such harm.
A.6.d.
Role Changes in the
Professional Relationship
When  counselors  change  a  role  from
the  original  or  most  recent  contracted
relationship,  they  obtain  informed
consent from the client and explain the
client’s  right  to  refuse  services  related
to the change. Examples of role changes
include, but are not limited to
1.   changing from individual to re-
lationship or family counseling,
or vice versa;
2.       changing  from  an  evaluative
role to a therapeutic role, or vice
versa; and
3.     changing  from  a  counselor  to  a
mediator role, or vice versa.
Clients  must  be  fully  informed  of
any  anticipated  consequences  (e.g.,
financial,  legal,  personal,  therapeutic)
of counselor role changes.
A.6.e.
 Nonprofessional
Interactions
or Relationships (Other
Than Sexual or Romantic
Interactions or
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.  This
applies to both in-person and electronic
interactions or relationships.
A.7.
 Roles and Relationships
at Individual, Group,
Institutional, and
Societal Levels
A.7.a.
 Advocacy
When appropriate, counselors advocate
at individual, group, institutional, and
societal levels to address potential bar
-
riers  and  obstacles  that  inhibit  access
and/or  the  growth  and  development
of clients.
A.7.b.
Confidentiality and
Advocacy
Counselors obtain client consent prior
to engaging in advocacy efforts on be-
half of an identifiable client to improve
the  provision  of  services  and  to  work
toward  removal  of  systemic  barriers
or  obstacles  that  inhibit  client  access,
growth, and development.