RIGHTS,
RESPONSIBILITIES,
ACCOUNTABILITIES
AND CODE OF
ETHICS
• EACH PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS HAS AN
ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO UPLOAD THE
PUBLIC TRUST AND MUST SEEK HIGH LEVELS OF
TRAINING , EDUCATION, AND SUPERVISION IN THE
ETHICAL APPLICATION OF COUNSELING
PRACTICES, IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE
COUNSELORS OFTEN PRACTICE BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS WITH LITTLE OVERSIGHT.
CLIENT EXPECTATIONS, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
YOU MAY ASK A CAREER PROFESSIONAL FOR A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF
SERVICES INCLUDING THE FEES THEY CHARGE. YOU SHOULD WORK WITH A
PROFESSIONAL WHO WILL PERMIT YOU TO SELECT WHICH SERVICES TO USE . YOU
MAY ALSO ASK FOR THEIR CREDENTIALS (INCLUDING A COPY OF THEIR DIPLOMAS
AND LICENSURE CERTIFICATE ) AND A COPY OF THEIR ETHICAL GUIDELINES .
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE ERHICAL
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES SUCH AS THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR
CERTIFIED COUNSELORS , THE AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION , THE
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OR THE NATIONAL CARRER
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION. YOU MAY TERMINATE SERVICES AT ANY TIME AND
PAY ONLY FOR THE SERVICES RENDERED.
• YOU MAY DISCUSS IN ADVANCE WITH A CAREER
PROFESSIONAL WHAT OUTCOMES YOU CAN EXPECT
AS A E RESULT OF YOUR WORK TOGETHER . CAREER
COUNSELING REQUIRES THE EXPERTISE OF A
TRAINED PROFESSIONAL. BE SKEPTICAL OF THOSE
WHO PROMISE YOU MORE MONEY , QUICK
PROMOTIONS, SPEEDY OR GUARANTEED RESULTS OR
AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO CAREER PROBLEMS .
CAREER COUNSELING, ISSUES ARE USUALLY
COMPLEX AND REQUIRE THE USE OF MANY TYPES OF
TOOLS AND EXERCISES WHICH ARE BEST
IMPLEMENTED BY THOSE WHO HAVE EXTENSIVE
EDUCATION , TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN THAT
FIELD.
• YOU RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER
BE INFORMED OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUR
COUNSELOR: EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONAL
COUNSELING CERTIFICATIONS, AND LICENSE(S).
RECEIVE AN EXPLANATION OF SERVICES PFFERED, YOUR
TIME COMMITMENTS , FEE SCALES , AND BILLING
POLICIES PRIORTO RECEIPT OF SERVICES.
BE INFORMED OF THE LIMITATIONS OF THE
COUNSELOR'S PRACTICE TO SPECIAL AREAS OF
EXPERTISE (CAREER DEVELOPMENT, ETHINIC GROUPS,
ETC.)OR AGE GROUP ( ADOLESCENTS, OLDER ADULTS
,ETC.)
HAVE ALL THAT YOU SAY TREATED CONFIDENTIALLY AND
BE INFORMED OF ANY STATE LAWS PLACING
LIMITATIONS ON CONFIDENTIALITY IN THE COUNSELING
RELATIONSHIP.
ASL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COUNSELING TECHNIQUES
AND STRATEGIES AND BE INFORMED OF YOUR
PROGRESS.
PARTICIPATE IN SETTING GOALS AND EVALUATING
PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING THEM.
BE INFORMED OF HOW TO CONTACT THE COUNSELOR IN
AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
REQUEST REFERRAL FOR A SECOND OPINION AT ANY
TIME.
REQUEST COPIES OF RECORDS AND REPORTS TO BE
USED BY OTHER COUNSELING PROFESSIONALS .
RECEIVE A COPY OF THE CODE OF ETHICS TO WHICH
YOUR COUSELOR ADHERES.
CONTACT THE APPROPRIATRE PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZAION IF YOU HAVE DOUBTS OR COMPLAINTS
RELATIVE TO THE COUNSELPR'S CONDUCT.
TERMINATE THE RELATIONSHIP AT ANY TIME.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CLIENT
SET AND KEEP APPOINTMENTS WITH YOUR COUNSELOR.
LET HIM OR HER KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU
CANNOT KEEP AN APPOINTMENT.
PAY YOUR FEES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCHEDULE
YOU PRE-ESTABLISHED WITH THE COUNSELOR .
HELP YOUR PLAN GOALS.
FLLOW THROUGH WITH AGREED UPON GOALS.
KEEP YOUR COUNSELOR INFORMED OF YOUR PROGRESS
TOWARDS MEETING YOUR GOALS.
IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES OF AN
COUNSELOR
EXPRESS TOUR CONCERN DIRECTLY TO THE COUNSELOR,
IF POSSIBLE.
SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE COUNSELOR'S SUPERVISOR IF
THE COUNSELOR IS PRACTICING IN A SETTING WHERE HE
OR SHE RECEIVES DIRECT SUPERVISION
TERMINATE THE COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP , IF THE
SITUATION REMAINS UNSOLVED.
CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE STATE LICENSING BOARD,
NATIONAL CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION OR
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION , IF YOU BELIVE THE
COUNSELOR'S CONDUCT TO BE UNETHICAL .
ETHICAL PRACTICES
CAREER PROFESSIONALS ADHERE TO PROFESSIONAL ETHICAL
PRINCIPLES. ETHICAL STANDARDS ARE DESIGNED TO SERVE
THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CLIENTS . THESE STANDARDS
GOVERN TOPICS SUCH AS PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES,
COUNSELOR-CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS, THE PROVISION OF
SERVICES AND THE USE ASSESSMENT ANS EVALUATION
INCOUNSELING.
YOUR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR WIL DISCUSS HIS OR
HER QUALIFICATIONS , TRAINING, AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE.
YOU CAN EXPECT THAT YOUR COUNSELORS WILL PROVIDE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COUNSELING SERVICES AND FEES,
INCLUDING THE PURPOSES ,GOALS AND BENIFITS OF THE
COUNSELING SERVICES PRIVACY AND DISCLOSURE
INFORMATION
ACA CODE OF ETHICS
THE CODE ADDRESSES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS TOWARD THEIR CLIENTS,
COLLEAGUES, WORKPLACE, AND THEMSELVES BY
DELINEATING THE IDEAL STANDARDS FOR CONDUCTING
ONE'S BEHAIOR.
ALL ACA MEMEBERS MUST ABIDE BY THE CODE:
THE CODE HAS EIGHT SECTIONS;
A) THE COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP
B) CONFIDENTIALITY , PRIVILEGED , COMMUNICATION, AND PRIVACY
C) PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
D) RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS PROFESSIONALS
E) EVALUATION, ASSESSMENT, AND INTERPRETATION
F) SUPERVISION, TRAINING, AND TEACHING
G)RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION
H) RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES
HIGHLIGHTS FROM EACH OF THESE AREAS WILL BE SUMMARIZED ,
BUT STUDENTS SHOULD LOCATE THE ACTUAL ACA CODE OF ETHICS
ON THE ACA WEB SITE AND PERUSE IT IN GREAT DEAL.
SECTION A; COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP
COUNSELORS MUST WAIT FIVE YEARS AFTER THE COUNSELOR-
CLIENT RELATIONSHIP HAS ENDED BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY
ROMANTIC OR SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH A CLOENT, A CLIENT'S
FAMILY MEMEBERS, OR CLIENT'S ROMANTIC PARTNER.
AVOIDANCE OF NONPROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS
IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE AND MAY EVEN BE BENEFICIAL(e.g.,
ATTENDING FORMAL CEREMONIES , HOSPITAL VISTS,
