Ethics are moral principles that govern a person’s behavior. They were created from the branch of philosophy that evaluates moral behavior, concepts and language. Ethics are the basic perceptions and the essential principles of decent human conduct. Obtaining an “ethical life” involves: protecting, structuring, and endorsing concepts of right and wrong conduct. With that being said, it is crucial within the profession of counseling and psychotherapy to follow ethical standards and motives (Ethical Principles, 2010). The American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, which is referred to as the Ethics Codes consists of special ethical standards in which members of the
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Overall, one of the most crucial responsibilities of a counselor is to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients, while regarding the imposition of personal values. If I strongly believe in something, then the codes of ethics may certainly come into conflict. However, the ACA (Section A.4.b) specifically states that “counselors are aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors and avoid imposing values that are inconsistent with counseling goals. Counselors respect the diversity of clients, trainees, and research participants” (Welfel, 2015). If I were faced with a dilemma between codes of ethics and my spiritual belief system, depending on the severity of the problem, I would follow the codes and separate my personal views aside. It comes down to the fact that meeting the clients’ needs is more important than meeting my own. Although, if I had to deal with a situation in which I feel completely uncomfortable with, I would most likely refer the client to someone who is more competent within that particular
Overall, one of the most crucial responsibilities of a counselor is to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients, while regarding the imposition of personal values. If I strongly believe in something, then the codes of ethics may certainly come into conflict. However, the ACA (Section A.4.b) specifically states that “counselors are aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors and avoid imposing values that are inconsistent with counseling goals. Counselors respect the diversity of clients, trainees, and research participants” (Welfel, 2015). If I were faced with a dilemma between codes of ethics and my spiritual belief system, depending on the severity of the problem, I would follow the codes and separate my personal views aside. It comes down to the fact that meeting the clients’ needs is more important than meeting my own. Although, if I had to deal with a situation in which I feel completely uncomfortable with, I would most likely refer the client to someone who is more competent within that particular