ACA Code Of Ethics: The Ethical Application Of Counseling Practices

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Recommended: Introduction about ethics in counseling

Counselors have a tremendous responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the counseling relationship and support the client’s trust. They must seek high levels of training and education in the ethical application of counseling practices. It is these practices and professional values that empower clients and families to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals of their own. Helping professionals have an ethical obligation and professional responsibility to clients to protect their rights, warn and protect, record-keeping protection, counselor self-care, advocacy, and counselor values. The professional values of counseling provide a conceptual basis for the ethical principles and professional ethical behavior. These are moral principles and may be found within the ACA Code of Ethics (2014). The five principles include autonomy, nonmaleficence, …show more content…

To incorporate this, clients should be encouraged to make their own decisions and act on their own values. Nonmaleficence is avoiding any actions that may cause harm. This is accomplished by doing no harm or participating in actions that risk causing harm to clients. Beneficence is caring and working for the good, empowering, and promoting the well-being of clients. Counselors achieve this by contributing to the welfare of their clients. Justice is treating clients equally and with fairness. To incorporate this counselors do not treat all clients the same, but rather fairly by respecting their rights and appreciating their differences. Fidelity is fulfilling the responsibility to clients by making realistic commitments and keeping those promises. This is accomplished by not threatening the therapeutic alliance or leaving any obligations unfulfilled (Forester-Miller & Davis, 1996). Among these moral ethical principles are also legal principles to client

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