Ethical Codes: American Counseling Association (APA)

Application of Ethical Codes

The philosophies of the two organizations, American Counseling Association (ACA) and American Psychological Association (APA) are based on ethical codes that can protect and promotes the wellbeing of patients and protects psychotherapists from professional self-interests. Professional standards written by ACA and APA will hold psychotherapists accountable including, persons of influence, like the ethics committees, state licensing boards, civil and criminal courts (Pope and Vasquez, 1991). Conflicts of interest can impair and hinder effectiveness of performance with psychotherapists, including, over stepping boundaries and exploitation of therapeutic relationships (APA, 2017). APA (2017) states that exploitation

will include: employees, patients, research participants and students furthermore, psychotherapists may not have multiple relationships, financial arrangements, bartering, sexual relationship or any intimacies with patients or relatives of patients, any former sexual partners or sexual intimacies with former patients. APA and ACA are two of the association that psychotherapists can turn to for help with facing an ethical dilemma.
History of APA and ACA
The American Psychological Association (APA) (2017) was created and first published during the post-World War II.

The reorganization of the APA was effective in 1945 with deliberations of the National Research Council (NRC) The American Association for Applied Psychology (AAAP) was a major force in representing the national psychology in created ethical codes (APA, Division Officer Handbook, 2017). The committee, with the guidance of NRC and APA-AAAP developed and created the Ethical Principles of Psychologist and the Code of conduct (APA, 2017). This document was created because there was a need for psychologists to have a documentation when there were taking more public and professional role (APA, Division Officers Handbook, 2017). The committee wrote the Ethics Code, which included an introduction, preamble and five inspiring principles that were enforceable by standards of ten documented guide for ethical decisions regarding research, education and treatment (APA, Division Officers Handbook, 2017). The Ethics Code was to provide psychologists a guide for different situations and themes and help them make ethical

decision.
The American Counseling Association (ACA,) was founded in 1952, but was called the American Personnel and guidance Association (APGA) until its named changed in 1992 to reflect the purpose and a common bond (ACA Milestone, 2017). The ACA (2017) was created by several organization coming together to provide a lager voice and guidance in the profession. The organization included the national Association of Guidance and Counselor Trainers (NAGT), National Vocational Guidance Association (NVGA), American college Personnel Association and the Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education (SPATE) (ACA Milestone, 2017). The ACA (2017) is a not-for-profit organization which helps psychotherapist professional with education, growth and enhancement in different practice settings.
APA Ethical Principles
Ethical principles of psychologists and the Code of Conduct were created by the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s). The APA Ethics Code includes general principles with ethical standards to provide general rules for situations that may arise for psychotherapist regarding patient’s welfare and security (Pope and Vasquez, 1991). The Code of Ethics is a tool that can be used in different situations to provide members with compliance and ethical standards throughout their careers. Psychotherapist are to maintain the rules of ethics and keep the course of action, however, Ethics Codes are not enforceable rules by the law. APA specifies different principles to promote competence, integrity, respect, concern and social responsibility (Pope and Vasquez, 1991). Competence, also known as bendficence and nonmaleficence suggest that psychologists or psychotherapists have high standards of competence that they must strive for and be able to recognize their limitations. The APA (2017) suggest that psychotherapist will also avoid any harm to those they work with, including misuse of influence. Integrity is another standard in the APA (2017) which includes being honest and accurate within the psychotherapist teaching and in their treatment. APA (2017) also suggest that misleading patients or making promises that cannot be kept is a form of dishonesty and can be ethically justified along with jeopardizing the treatment relationship. Respect is another standard in the APA (2017) which is for respecting the rights and dignity of patients, as well as the patient’s confidentiality, privacy, self-determinations and autonomy. Concern is for other’s welfare that psychologists are professionally responsible and who they interact with. The social responsibility is an obligation to be aware of the professional scientific ethics and responsibilities within the community and society. In other words, psychotherapists should be willing to make an effort with donating their skills and time to benefit the community. Psychotherapists are obligated to their profession to conduct themselves in a professional manner and uphold the ethical codes (APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, 2017).
Confidentiality
Ethical issues that are important in a role as a leader who is providing clinical supervision should fully understand confidentiality and protect client’s rights. APA ethical standard number 4: (2017) Privacy and confidentiality proclaims that psychologists have an obligation to respect the privacy of clients and to take precautions to protect confidential information including self and any stored records. Danzinger and Welfel (2001) suggest there are limits of confidentiality which are relevant, foreseeable uses of information generated in daily activities. Some relationship may be contraindicated or not feasible to provide future services or consultation to provide better care (Danzinger, and Welfel, 2001).
In one of the scenarios, that welfel (2005) provided discussed an ethical issue of confidentiality. In the case study there was a school counselor, who was well know and trusted by students, parents and teacher met with old friend from college for lunch to swap work stories in orders to work out frustrations and successes. One incident the school counselor was sharing a story, careful not to identify or disclose any information about the clients, and she was overheard by a person setting next to their table. This person was upset and expresses his disgusted toward her and mumbled about not trusting a marriage counselor with personal information or they would end up gossiping too (Welfel, 2005).
Welfel (2005) suggest the counselor compromised the principles and values of their vocation and positioned by putting their personal needs in front of the wellbeing and dignity of the client. Psychotherapists are required to have a careful sense of balance with disclosure and it is their ethical obligation to protect the client’s confidentiality. In this scenario and others the public puts their trust in psychologists and counselors and expect higher standards. The public is to be able to trust them with confidentiality and it is essential for all providers to be clear on whether they will be releasing any information (Danzinger, and Welfel, 2001). The Ethics code states that only information that may be disclosed from psychotherapists is the minimum that is deem necessary to provide other services, or consultations, obtain payment for the service and they have a duty to protect the client and keep other from harming (Danzinger, and Welfel, 2001).
Competent
The other ethical issues that are important in a role as a leader who is providing clinical supervision should fully understand their competences. APA (2017) ethical standard number 2.01 Boundaries and Competence proclaim psychologist is only allowed to provide services based on their own training, experience, education and consultation of study. Kitchener (1984) gives three cases on ethical issues and one is on competent while a psychology student in their first year of school. The first year student decides to cheat on his final paper and the professor believes the student is under a lot of pressure to succeed. The professor has faith that the student has the capability to succeed with the academics and is faced with rather to expose him or not due to the student facing expulsion from the program (Kitchener, 1984). The professor also understand the responsibility to the public when the student is already showing signs of dishonesty, and lack of competences in his studies in times of stress. Kitchener (1984) explains the dilemma exists because the professor needs to make an ethical decision that is conflicting and incompatible course of action between potential harming patients in the future or harming the student in the here and now. Ethical decision are not always black or white there are grey areas like in the case. Kitchener (1984) proposes if the decision is based on morals and when justification fails there could be reasoning to evaluate decision making process that may be compromised. Kitchener (1984) suggest with the APA it is the psychologists responsibility to promote positive growth and principle of beneficence to fine the balance and not cause any harm but it is the moral dilemmas people seem to struggle with when making ethical decisions.

American Counseling Association (ACA) and American Psychological Association (APA) are based on ethical codes that can protect and promotes the wellbeing of patients and protects psychotherapists from professional self-interests.

APA specifies different principles to promote competence, integrity, respect, concern and social responsibility (Pope and Vasquez, 1991). The Ethics code to practice is known by psychotherapists which clearly states that there is an obligation to uphold and maintain their competency. Psychotherapists are required to have a careful sense of balance with disclosure and it is their ethical obligation to protect the client’s confidentiality. There are times where difficulties arise and standards are not clear when practice can emerge in other areas and how one competencies is related to another (Gonsalvez, 2014). The Code of Ethics is a tool that can be used in the ACA and APA to provide members with compliance and ethical standards in the duration of their careers. APA ethical standard number 4: (2017) Privacy and confidentiality proclaims that psychologists have an obligation to respect the privacy of clients and to take precautions to protect confidential information including self and any stored records. Ethical decision are not always black or white there are grey areas like in the case. Kitchener (1984) acclaims if the decision is based on morals and when justification fails there could be reasoning to evaluate decision making process that may be

compromised. Kitchener (1984) suggest psychologists are responsibility to promote positive growth and principle that will fine the balance and not cause any harm.