Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice tests the codes, the law, and the judgment between them: confidentiality and its limits, boundaries, competence, supervision, records, and advocacy.
Core
- ACA Code of Ethics (2014) sections A–I: A counseling relationship, B confidentiality, C professional responsibility, D relationships with other professionals, E evaluation/assessment/interpretation, F supervision/training, G research/publication, H distance counseling/technology, I resolving ethical issues.
- Confidentiality limits: serious and foreseeable harm to self or identifiable others, abuse of children/elderly/dependent adults, court orders, client waiver. Tarasoff established a duty to protect, and the required action (warn, notify police, hospitalize) varies by state.
- Multiple relationships: not automatically unethical; avoid when exploitation or impaired judgment is likely. Bartering only when culturally appropriate, non-exploitative, and documented.
- Supervision: supervisor holds responsibility, provides informed consent and due process, evaluates fairly.
- Decision-making (Forester-Miller & Davis): identify the problem, apply code and law, determine dimensions, brainstorm, consider consequences, choose and evaluate.
Worked example
A client discloses a specific plan to kill his partner. The counselor assesses intent, means, and imminence; consults; takes protective action consistent with state law (for example, warning the victim, notifying police, or arranging hospitalization); and documents the reasoning. A common error is relying on warning alone when the statute requires a broader duty to protect - or disclosing more than necessary.
Traps
- Treating confidentiality as absolute.
- Assuming any dual relationship is a violation.
- Ignoring that state law may be stricter than the code.
- Using social media or telehealth without jurisdiction and emergency planning.
- Practicing outside competence without supervision or referral.