Ethical+Codes+&+Considerations

**A.1.a. Primary Responsibility**
==== The primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and to promote the welfare of clients ====

**A.1.d. Support Network Involvement**
==== Counselors recognize that support networks hold various meanings in the lives of clients and consider enlisting the support, understanding, and involvement of others (e.g., religious/spiritual/community leaders, family members, friends) as positive resources, when appropriate, with client consent ====

**A.2.a. Informed Consent**
Clients have the freedom to choose whether to enter into or remain in a counseling relationship and need adequate information about the counseling process and the counselor. Counselors have an obligation to review in writing and verbally with clients the rights and responsibilities of both the counselor and the client. Informed consent is an ongoing part of the counseling process, and counselors appropriately document discussions of informed consent throughout the counseling relationship.

**B.6.a. Confidentiality of Records**
==== Counselors ensure that records are kept in a secure location and that only authorized persons have access to records. ====

**B.6.d. Client Access**
Counselors provide reasonable access to records and copies of records when requested by competent clients. Counselors limit the access of clients to their records, or portions of their records, only when there is compelling evidence that such access would cause harm to the client. Counselors document the request of clients and the rationale for withholding some or all of the record in the files of clients. In situations involving multiple clients, counselors provide individual clients with only those parts of records that related directly to them and do not include confidential information related to any other client.

**C.6.b. Reports to Third Parties**
Counselors are accurate, honest, and objective in reporting their professional activities and judgments to appropriate third parties, including courts, health insurance companies, those who are the recipients of evaluation reports, and others.

**H.1.a. Knowledge**
Counselors understand the ACA Code of Ethics and other applicable ethics codes from other professional organizations or from certification and licensure bodies of which they are members. Lack of knowledge or misunderstanding of an ethical responsibility is not a defense against a charge of unethical conduct.

Video 1: **Summary of ACA Code of Ethics Standards to consider** Video by Alicia Watkins

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