Adopted Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice
Adopted ethics code and standards of practice
The Board adopts a professional code-principally the ACA Code of Ethics-and enforces it through its rules. Candidates should know the six moral principles (autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity, veracity) and the difference between aspirational ideals and enforceable standards. The code addresses competence, informed consent, confidentiality, multiple relationships, boundaries, assessment, supervision, advertising, records, and termination. Ethics violations can lead to discipline even when no lawsuit exists.
Traps: (1) treating the code as a legal statute-legal and ethical duties overlap but are not identical; (2) assuming a 'dual relationship' is always prohibited-some are unavoidable, and the standard is whether it risks harm or exploitation; (3) bartering is not automatically unethical but must be culturally appropriate, fair, documented, and not exploitative; (4) social media and self-disclosure can create boundary problems; (5) personal values must not be imposed on clients.
Rule of thumb: when rules conflict, follow the more stringent standard and document your reasoning. Use a structured decision model: identify the problem, consult the code and law, consult colleagues or the Board, consider cultural context, choose the least harmful action, and document.
Worked example: a long-term client offers a $500 gift at termination. The counselor considers value, cultural meaning, power dynamics, and agency policy; a modest, culturally meaningful token may be acceptable, but a large gift risks exploitation and should be declined with discussion.