Morals:Personal belief system that affects your interactions with others in

all aspects of your life.

Morals come from:Personal valuesFamily Influence

Culture you live in Religious beliefs

Ethics:Conduct judged as good or right for a particular professional group

Purpose of Ethics:Educate about the responsibilities of the profession

Provide a basis for accountabilityProtect clients from unethical practices

Provide a basis for reflection on and improving one’s professional practice

Two Types of Ethics:

Mandatory ethics: Level of ethical functioning at which counselors simply act in compliance with minimal standards

Aspirational ethics: Striving for the optimum standards of conduct.

Laws:Agreed upon rules of a society that set forth the basic principles

for living together as a group.

Laws dictate minimum standards of behavior that society will tolerate

Ethics represent the ideal standards expected by the professional

Laws are created by elected officials, enforced by police, and interpreted by judges

Ethics are created by the counseling profession. They are interpreted and enforced by ethics committees and licensure

boards.

Autonomy: Counselor respects the rights of clients to choose their own directions, act in accordance with their beliefs, and

control their own lives.

Nonmaleficence: Obligation to avoid actions that will do harm to clients.

Beneficence: Obligation to provide services that benefit the client.

Justice: Counselor’s commitment to fairness in professional relationships

Fidelity: Fulfilling a responsibility of trust in the counseling relationship.

Veracity: The counselor’s obligation to deal honesty with clients.

Integrity: The motivation to do what is right because of your belief system and not due to fear of consequences

Discernment: The ability to perceive the ethically relevant aspects of a situation, know what principles to apply, and take decisive

action.

Justice: Would you treat others the same in this situation?

Universality: Would you be willing to recommend the course of action you followed to other counselors?

Publicity: Would you be willing to have your actions come to light and be known by others?

Moral traces: What lingering feelings of doubt are you experiencing due to your decision?

Privacy (Professional):The right of persons to decide what information about

themselves will be shared with or withheld from others.

Confidentiality (Ethical):The counselor’s obligation to respect the client’s privacy and a

promise that information revealed in a session will be protected from disclosure without their consent.

Privileged Communication (Legal):Laws that protect clients from having confidential communications

with their counselors disclosed in a court of law without their permission.

Client RecordsClient Communication (Email, etc.)Communication among therapists

Group/Family CounselingEntrance/Exit of Counseling Center

The counselor suspects child or elder abuseThe client poses a danger to others

The client poses a danger to selfThe client has a fatal, communicable disease and their behavior is

putting others at risk

Refuse to condone abortion

Refuse to assume the decision for client divorce

Refuse to condone pre-marital or extra-marital sexual behavior or homosexual behavior

Refuse to condone or advocate for active forms of euthanasia and assisted suicide

Sexual Relations with Former Clients, Students, and Supervisees Forbidden

Do not withhold services to anyone of a different faith, religion, denomination, or value system.

Refuse to condone abortion

Refuse to assume the decision for client divorce

Refuse to condone pre-marital or extra-marital sexual behavior or homosexual behavior

Refuse to condone or advocate for active forms of euthanasia and assisted suicide

Sexual Relations with Former Clients, Students, and Supervisees Forbidden

Do not withhold services to anyone of a different faith, religion, denomination, or value system.