The ACA Code of Ethics: Articulating Counseling's Professional Covenant

Abstract

The ACA Code of Ethics (American Counseling Association, 2005) is an articulation of the ever-changing relationship between counseling professionals and society. It provides clear parameters of behaviors to meet the changing needs of the people counselors are called to serve. This article reviews the 2005 Code as both a statement of counselor identity and an ethical covenant with society.

The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision Volume 6 Issue 2 Fall 2014

“…It is generally accepted that these signposts include: (a) an association for members of the profession, (b) an ethics code and standards of practice, (c) rigorous educational requirements, (d) acknowledgment of the profession by the public, (e) a specified body of knowledge, (f) licensing and credentialing, and (g) accrediting bodies to operationalize curriculum (Gale & Austin, 2003;Ponton & Duba, 2009). The other element of a profession-and the most defining-is the nature of the relationship between the profession and society (Ponton & Duba, 2009). The ethics codes, more than any other definitional component of a profession, define and contextualize this relationship for the helping professions.…”

“…Researchers have described ethics codes as statements of professional identity and covenants with society (Ponton & Duba, 2009), noting that some professionals have faith in codes of ethics while some are skeptical (Fine & Teram, 2009). Researchers have examined ethics within the frameworks of diagnosis (Dougherty, 2005;Kress, Hoffman, & Eriksen, 2010), testing and assessment (Naugle, 2009), spirituality (Steen, Engles, & Thweatt, 2006), therapeutic prayer (Weld & Eriksen, 2007), and computer-based supervision (Vaccaro & Lambie, 2007).…”

Measuring Professional Identity Development Among Counselor Trainees

“…One of the continuing discussions includes a notion of a unified counselor professional identity. Researchers have asserted that the counseling field has established many of the important aspects of a profession (i.e., ethics, organizations, and standards; Ponton & Duba, ; Spurgeon, ). However, the lack of a collective identity remains a hindrance in establishing the unique contributions of counseling to society (Ponton & Duba, ).…”

“…Researchers have asserted that the counseling field has established many of the important aspects of a profession (i.e., ethics, organizations, and standards; Ponton & Duba, ; Spurgeon, ). However, the lack of a collective identity remains a hindrance in establishing the unique contributions of counseling to society (Ponton & Duba, ). Researchers have expressed concern that the many specialization areas in counseling might lead to a limited shared vision when establishing counselor identity (Calley & Hawley, ; Gale & Austin, ; Myers et al, ; Reiner, Dobmeier, & Hernandez, ).…”

Reasons for Ethical Misconduct of Counseling Students: What do Faculty Think?

“…The counseling profession has devoted considerable attention to ethics issues (see Barnett et al, 2007;Gale & Austin, 2003;Ponton & Duba, 2009;Sanders & Hoffman, 2010). This is directly linked to the previously discussed role that ethics plays in the relationship the helping professions have with the society in which they exist.…”