1.
Confidentiality
Definition: Confidentiality involves the protection of a client’s personal information and what is
shared during counseling sessions.
Key Aspects:
● General Protection: All client information is confidential unless the client provides
consent for sharing.
● Limits: Breaches of confidentiality are allowed only when the client poses a danger to
themselves or others, or when there is suspected abuse.
Examples:
● A client shares their suicidal thoughts during a session. The counselor informs the client
about the limits of confidentiality, ensuring that, to protect the client’s safety, they will
have to inform others (like a family member or emergency service).
● A counselor working in a school setting is asked by a teacher for information about a
student’s therapy. The counselor must decline unless the student has signed a release of
information or there is a serious risk of harm.
2. Boundaries
Definition: Boundaries are ethical limits that protect the therapeutic relationship by ensuring the
counselor and client maintain professional distance.
Key Aspects:
● Physical Boundaries: Counselors must avoid any inappropriate physical contact that
could be misinterpreted.
● Emotional Boundaries: Counselors should maintain emotional objectivity and avoid
becoming too personally involved.
● Professional Boundaries: Counselors must not provide services outside their area of
competence or professional expertise.
Examples:
● A counselor may refrain from giving personal advice outside of the therapeutic context,
even if a client asks for it in a casual setting, to maintain professionalism.
● A counselor must avoid becoming close friends with a client, as this could compromise
the objectivity of therapy and create conflicts of interest.
3. Gifts Taking
Definition: The practice of accepting gifts from clients can create ethical dilemmas. Counselors
must consider the appropriateness of accepting gifts to avoid undue influence or creating a power
imbalance.
Key Aspects:
● Exploitation Risk: Gifts can create a sense of obligation or indebtedness that could
affect the counselor-client dynamic.
● Cultural Sensitivity: Counselors must consider cultural norms about gift-giving, as
rejecting a gift in some cultures could cause offense.
Examples:
● A client gifts a counselor a bottle of expensive wine after a breakthrough in therapy. The
counselor declines the gift, explaining that while they appreciate the gesture, it’s
important to maintain professional boundaries.
● In some cultures, clients might give small tokens of appreciation (such as food or
handcrafted items). A counselor might accept such gifts if they are culturally appropriate
but politely decline expensive items.
4. To Touch or Not to Touch
Definition: The decision of whether or not to engage in physical contact during therapy, which
can be a sensitive ethical issue.
Key Aspects:
● Respecting Personal Space: Counselors must respect a client’s comfort levels and
cultural preferences regarding physical touch.
● Context Matters: In certain therapeutic settings, like play therapy or somatic therapy,
touch may be used as a tool, but only with clear consent.
Examples:
● A counselor uses a gentle touch on a client’s hand to offer comfort during a particularly
emotional moment. However, the counselor first asks if the client is comfortable with
touch.
● A counselor avoids physical touch altogether with clients who have experienced trauma,
as even simple gestures like a handshake may trigger distress.
5. Client Rights
Definition: Client rights ensure that the client is fully aware of their entitlements and is treated
with dignity and respect during therapy.
Key Aspects:
● Right to Confidentiality: Clients have the right to know that their information will be
kept confidential unless there are safety concerns.
● Right to Withdraw: Clients can stop therapy at any time without fear of penalty.
Examples:
● A client has the right to ask for a copy of their therapy notes. The counselor explains the
process and ensures that the client is aware of their rights to review their records.
● A client who feels that therapy is not helping can choose to discontinue sessions, even if
the counselor feels that therapy could still be beneficial.
6. Process Notes and Progress Notes
Definition: Process notes document the counselor’s impressions, feelings, and analysis, while
progress notes document the client’s progress toward goals.
Key Aspects:
● Confidentiality of Process Notes: Process notes are typically kept private to preserve the
counselor's personal reflections and impressions.
● Transparency with Progress Notes: Progress notes are often shared with other
professionals involved in the client’s care with the client’s consent.
Examples:
● Process notes might include a counselor’s analysis of the client's body language or
emotional reactions to certain topics discussed during the session.
● Progress notes might note that the client has reduced their anxiety symptoms after six
weeks of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), indicating progress toward their therapy
goals.
7. Consent
Definition: Consent refers to obtaining the client’s permission to engage in therapy, use certain
therapeutic techniques, and share information.
Key Aspects:
● Informed Consent: Counselors must inform clients about the therapy process, any risks,
and the methods being used.
● Ongoing Consent: Consent is not a one-time event; clients must continuously feel
comfortable with the therapy process.
Examples:
● Before beginning a new technique such as mindfulness or exposure therapy, the
counselor explains the process and gains the client’s consent to proceed.
● The counselor checks in regularly to ensure the client’s comfort with the approach,
especially when trying new or more intense therapeutic strategies.
8. Ethical Principles
Definition: Ethical principles guide counselors in making decisions that protect client welfare
and maintain professional integrity.
Key Principles:
● Autonomy: Respecting the client’s ability to make their own choices.
● Nonmaleficence: The counselor’s duty to avoid causing harm.
● Beneficence: Actively working to benefit the client.
● Justice: Treating clients fairly and equally.
● Fidelity: Maintaining trust and loyalty in the therapeutic relationship.
Examples:
● A counselor applies the principle of autonomy by empowering the client to make
decisions about their own therapy, such as choosing which goals to focus on.
● When a counselor encounters a situation where they cannot ethically help the client, they
may refer the client to a more qualified professional, demonstrating nonmaleficence.
9. Negligence / Malpractice
Definition: Negligence and malpractice occur when a counselor fails to meet the standard of care
expected in their profession, causing harm to the client.
Key Aspects:
● Duty of Care: Counselors are expected to provide care that meets professional standards.
● Breach of Duty: Failing to meet the standard of care that leads to harm.
● Causation: There must be a clear link between the counselor's actions and the harm
caused.
Examples:
● A counselor fails to assess a client’s risk of self-harm, and the client later attempts
suicide. The counselor could be liable for negligence.
● A counselor provides unqualified therapy to a client with a severe mental health disorder,
leading to worsened symptoms. The client could file a malpractice suit.
10. Legal Sanctions Against Sexual Violation
Definition: Sexual violation in counseling refers to any sexual misconduct, including
inappropriate comments, physical touch, or advances.
Key Aspects:
● Zero Tolerance: Sexual misconduct is a breach of ethics and law, and counselors are
subject to legal action if they engage in such behavior.
● Criminal and Civil Consequences: Counselors who violate these boundaries face
serious legal and professional consequences, including criminal charges and loss of
licensure.
Examples:
● A counselor is found guilty of making suggestive comments toward a client. They face
criminal charges and are permanently banned from practicing counseling.
● A counselor is reported for inappropriate physical contact during a therapy session. Legal
action is taken, and the counselor loses their professional license.
11. Multiple Relationships
Definition: Multiple relationships occur when a counselor has more than one role in a client’s
life, which could impair the counselor's ability to remain objective.
Key Aspects:
● Conflict of Interest: Multiple roles can lead to divided loyalties, confusion, or
exploitation.
● Ethical Guidelines: Counselors are advised to avoid multiple relationships or manage
them carefully to ensure they do not interfere with the therapeutic process.
Examples:
● A counselor who also works as a teacher in the same school where a student is receiving
counseling might find it challenging to maintain professional boundaries, especially when
discussing school-related issues.
● A counselor treating a close family member may have trouble maintaining objectivity, so
they might refer the family member to another professional to avoid conflicts.
