Semester V

VSC Counselling Psychology Part I

Unit I- C) Ethical Aspects of

Counselling
Definitions:

• Ethics: Standards of behavior developed through group consensus.

• Morality: Personal belief system shaped by culture and religion.

• Law: Rules enforced by courts.

Unethical behaviors in counseling (American Counseling Association [ACA],
2014; Herlihy & Corey, 2015)
• Violation of confidentiality
• Exceeding one’s level of professional competence
• Negligent practice
• Claiming expertise one does not possess
• Imposing one’s values on a client
• Creating dependency in a client
• Sexual activity with a client
• Certain conflicts of interest, such as dual or multiple relationships—in which the role of
the counselor is combined with another relationship (either personal or professional) and
not monitored for appropriateness of boundaries (Hermann, 2011a; Moleski & Kiselica,
2005)
• Questionable financial arrangements, such as charging excessive fees
• Improper advertising
• Plagiarism
Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in
Counseling (ASERVIC)
• ASERVIC, a division of the American Counseling Association,
focuses on ethics and values in counseling and publishes resources like
the Counseling and Values journal to guide professionals on topics
such as aging, feminism, and values education.
Professional Codes of Ethics and Standards
• Counselors follow professional codes of ethics based on shared values.
• These codes protect clients' rights and guide counselor behavior.
• They help make counseling a recognized and trusted profession.
• Ethical codes:
i. Let counselors self-regulate (not controlled by the government). Eg: A counseling board
investigates a member accused of unethical conduct (e.g., breaching confidentiality) and
suspends their license, rather than needing a government body to step in.
ii. Reduce conflicts within the profession. Eg: Two school counselors disagree on whether to
disclose a student’s pregnancy to parents. They refer to the ACA Code of Ethics to guide their
actions and reach a mutual, ethical decision
iii. Protect counselors from legal trouble if they follow the guidelines. Eg: A counselor breaks
confidentiality to report child abuse, following mandatory reporting laws and ethical guidelines.
If sued, the counselor is protected because they acted ethically and legally.
iv. They also build public trust and help clients spot poor or unethical practices. Eg: A client
reads the ACA Code online and recognizes that a previous counselor's guarantee of “100% cure”
was unethical. This helps them choose a more trustworthy professional.
The Development of Codes of Ethics for Counselors
• The first counseling code of ethics was created by ACA (then APGA) in 1961, led by
Donald Super, based on the APA’s code.
• It has been updated multiple times, most recently in 2014.
• ACA also publishes an Ethical Standards Casebook for practical guidance.
• The 6 Main Purposes of the ACA Code of Ethics (2014):
i. Guide ethical behavior of counselors.
ii. Highlight key ethical concerns for professionals and trainees.
iii. Clarify shared ethical duties for members and clients.
iv. Help counselors choose the best actions for clients.
v. Support ACA’s mission.
vi. Provide a process for handling ethics complaints
Nine Main Sections of the American Counseling
Association Code of Ethics
Section A- Counseling Relationship
Section B- Confidentially and Privacy in Counseling
Section C- Professional Responsibility
Section D- Relationships with Colleagues, Employers, and Employees
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
A – Counseling Relationship: Counselors must act in the best interest of clients, respecting
boundaries, cultural factors, and ending relationships ethically.
B – Confidentiality and Privacy: Counselors must protect client privacy, handle records carefully, and
disclose information only when necessary.
C – Professional Responsibility: Counselors should stay competent, honest, avoid discrimination, and
follow ethical advertising and public behavior.
D – Relationships with Other Professionals: Counselors must maintain respectful and ethical
relationships with colleagues, employers, and supervisees.
E – Evaluation and Assessment: Counselors must use fair, appropriate, and culturally sensitive tools
for assessment and diagnosis.
F – Supervision, Training, and Teaching: Counselors must provide ethical supervision and education,
respecting the roles and rights of all involved.
G – Research and Publication: Counselors must conduct research ethically, protect participants, and
report findings honestly.
H – Technology and Social Media: Counselors must use technology responsibly, ensuring informed
consent, privacy, and security in digital services.
I – Resolving Ethical Issues: Counselors should follow ethical guidelines, report violations properly,
and cooperate with investigations.
Limitations of Ethical Codes:
• Ethical codes in counseling are helpful guidelines based on shared values, but they
are general and not always specific to every situation.
• They may not resolve complex or cross-cultural dilemmas, and conflicts can
occur between legal and ethical rules (e.g., keeping confidentiality vs reporting
abuse).
• Since they reflect the thinking of a particular time, they may become outdated.
• Still, counselors should always start by checking the code when facing an ethical
issue.
• Examples of cross-cultural dilemma and conflict between counsellor and client-
➢Dilemma: A Western-trained counselor encourages open expression of feelings,
but the client from a traditional Asian culture is uncomfortable sharing emotions
openly.
➢Conflict: Counselor’s therapeutic approach vs client’s cultural value of emotional
restraint.
Making Ethical Decisions
• Making ethical choices isn’t always easy and requires honesty, courage,
and knowledge.
• Some counselors rely only on their personal judgment or "common sense",
which can lead to unethical mistakes—especially in tricky situations where
there’s no clear answer.
• Common dilemmas faced by counselors include:
• Confidentiality – Should I break confidentiality to keep someone safe?
• Role conflict – Am I crossing boundaries (e.g., being both a friend and a therapist)?
• Counselor competence – Am I trained enough to handle this issue?
• Conflicts with employer – What if my workplace policies clash with ethics?
• Danger to self or others – Is my client a risk to themselves or others?
• Eg: A client says they are thinking about suicide. The counselor must decide
whether to break confidentiality to protect them.
• Many counselors don’t always check ethical codes—they just go with their
instincts, which isn’t always safe or correct.
 6 Core Ethical Principles:

• Beneficence – Do good and help others.

Eg: Supporting a client through crisis to improve their well-being.
• Nonmaleficence – Do no harm.
Eg: Refusing to use a technique you’re not trained in.
• Autonomy – Respect the client’s right to choose.
Eg: Letting a client decide when to end therapy.
• Justice – Be fair to all clients.
Eg: Offering equal treatment to clients regardless of gender or background.
• Fidelity – Keep promises and be trustworthy.
Eg: Showing up on time and following through on commitments to the
client.
• Veracity – Be truthful.
Eg: Honestly explaining the limits of confidentiality to a new client.
Criteria/ guidelines for acting ethically:
1. Personal and Professional Honesty- Being honest about one’s limits builds trust
and prevents harm. Eg: A counselor admits to a client, “I’m not trained in trauma-
focused therapy, but I can refer you to someone who is.”
2. Acting in the Best Interest of the Client- The counselor prioritizes client’s well
being over personal convenience. Eg: A school counselor helps a student with
learning difficulties get accommodations, even though the process is time-
consuming.
3. Acting Without Malice or Personal Gain- It prevents exploitation or favoritism,
keeping the focus on the client’s well-being. Eg: A counselor refuses a gift from a
wealthy client to maintain professional boundaries and avoid bias.
4. Justifying an Action Based on the Current State of the Profession- It shows
the counselor is keeping up with evolving ethical standards and best practices. Eg:
A counselor begins offering teletherapy after ensuring it follows ACA and legal
guidelines on distance counseling.
MCQ’s:
• 1. What is the main purpose of ethical codes in counseling?
• A. To promote competition among professionals
• B. To protect the counselor's privacy
• C. To guide professional behavior and protect client rights
• D. To increase client fees Answer: C2
2. Which division of ACA focuses specifically on spiritual, ethical, and
religious values in counseling?
• AMHCAB.
• ASERVICC.
• ACCAD.
• AASCB Answer: B
3. One limitation of ethical codes is that they:
A. Always resolve all dilemmas clearly
• B. Are proactive and cover every situation
• C. May not apply to all cultural contexts
• D. Are legally binding in all cases Answer: C
4. What is the first thing a counselor should do when faced with an ethical dilemma?
• A. Ask the client for advice
• B. Refer to personal beliefs
• C. Consult the code of ethics
• D. Do what feels right Answer: C
5. Which of the following is an example of improper advertising in
counseling?
• A. Listing degrees and license on a website
• B. Promising a 100% success rate in therapy
• C. Offering sliding scale fees
• D. Stating areas of specialization Answer: B
6. What is a dual or multiple relationship in counseling?
• A. Working with a client and their family together
• B. Having more than one theoretical orientation
• C. Being both a counselor and having another personal/professional
role with a client
• D. Using multiple treatment approaches Answer: C
7. Which ethical principle means "do no harm"?
• A. Justice
• B. Fidelity
• C. Veracity
• D. Nonmaleficence Answer: D
8. Which of the following dilemmas was found most difficult by university counselors in
the New York study?
• A. Danger to others
• B. Counselor competence and confidentiality
• C. Fee structure
• D. Time management Answer: B
9. When a counselor respects a client’s right to make their own choices, they are practicing:
• A. Beneficence
• B. Autonomy
• C. Fidelity
• D. Justice Answer: B
10. Which principle emphasizes being truthful and honest with clients?
• A. Veracity
• B. Justice
• C. Fidelity
• D. Autonomy Answer: A
11. A counselor refusing an expensive gift from a client is an example of:
• A. Lack of rapport
• B. Professional dishonesty
• C. Acting without personal gain
• D. Poor communication Answer: C
12. Offering online counseling only after understanding ethical standards
demonstrates:
• A. Resistance to change
• B. Justifying action based on professional standards
• C. Ethical confusion
• D. Lack of flexibility Answer: B
13. Ethical codes help counselors:
• A. Compete with psychologists
• B. Win legal cases
• C. Self-regulate their profession
• D. Increase their clientele Answer C
 True or False questions:
1. Ethical codes provide clear answers to all counseling dilemmas.
False
2. Counselors should always check the code of ethics first when facing an ethical issue.
True
3. Improper advertising includes making false promises about therapy outcomes.
True
4. Having a personal and professional relationship with a client at the same time is ethical.
False
5. Ethical codes are based on current professional values and may become outdated.
True
6. Using "common sense" instead of professional guidelines is always a safe approach.
False
7. Nonmaleficence means acting without harm and preventing future harm.
True
8. Counselors do not need to consider cultural sensitivity in ethical decisions.
False
9. Ethical codes are designed only to protect counselors, not clients.
False
10. Veracity in counseling means being honest and truthful with clients.
True