ACA Code of Ethics Exam Prep – Mission, Ethical
Principles & Counseling Relationship (Section A)|
Verified A+ Graded Answers Latest Updated 2026
Mission of ACA
The mission of the American Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in society
by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession,
and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and
diversity
There are a number of resources and sources of information that can help guide professional
counselors as they strive to assist clients in an ethical and legal manner:
~ Ethical standards created by professional associations
~ Federal and state laws and regulations
~Policies, guidelines, and procedures created by state boards of education and local school
systems
Ethical standards are normally developed by professional associations to guide the behavior of a
specific group of professionals. Ethical standards help to:
~Educate members about sound ethical conduct
~Provide a mechanism of accountability
~Improve professional practice
The ACA's Code of Ethics is based on Kitchener's five moral principles: autonomy, justice,
beneficence, nonmaleficence, and fidelity.
~Autonomy refers to the concept of independence and the ability to make one's own decisions.
~Justice means treating each person fairly, but it does not mean treating each person the same
way.
~Beneficence refers to doing good or what is in the best interests of the client.
~Nonmaleficence means doing no harm to others.
~Fidelity involves the concepts of loyalty, faithfulness, and honoring commitments.
True
Laws are more prescriptive than ethical standards, have been incorporated into code, and carry
greater sanctions or penalties for failure to comply.
True
,When ethics and laws appear to be in conflict with each other, the professional counselor must
attempt to resolve the conflict in a responsible manner.
True
Because there are greater penalties associated with laws, the counselor will often follow the
legal course of action if there is no harm to the client.
When determining which code of ethics to follow, consider:
~What is the setting in which one is practicing, and is there a particular code that applies
specifically to that setting?
~In what capacity (e.g., licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, certified
school counselor) is the professional operating?
All ACA members 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 Other Professionals,
E) Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation,
F) Supervision, Training, and Teaching,
G) Research and Publication, and
H) Resolving Ethical Issues.
Section A: The Counseling Relationship
Counselors facilitate client growth and development in ways that foster the interest and welfare
of clients and promote formation of healthy relationships. Trust is the cornerstone of the
counseling relationship and counselors have the responsibility to respect and safeguard the
client's right to privacy and confidentiality. Counselors actively attempt to understand the
diverse cultural backgrounds of the clients they serve and should also explore their own cultural
identities and how these affect their values and beliefs about the counseling process. Pro bono
publico is encouraged.
Client Welfare - A.1.a - primary responsibility
To respect the dignity and promote welfare of client
A.1.b - Records and documentation
Create, safeguard and maintain documentation necessary for rendering professional services.
Sufficient and timely documentation to facilitate the delivery and continuity of services. Should
,accurately reflect client's progress and services provided. Properly note amendments according
to agency or institutional policies.
A.1.c - Counseling Plans
Counselor and clients work jointly in devising counseling plans that offer reasonable promise of
success and are consistent with the abilities, temperament, developmental level and
circumstances of clients. Counselors and clients regularly review and revise counseling plans to
assess their continued viability and effectiveness, respecting clients' freedom of choice.
A.1.d - Support Network Involvement
Recognize that support networks hold various meanings in the lives of clients and consider
enlisting the support, understanding and the involvement of others.
A.2 Informed consent in the counseling relationship
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 the obligation to review in writing and verbally with clients the rights and responsibilities
of both clients and counselors. Informed consent is an ongoing process and counselors should
appropriately document discussions of informed consent throughout the counseling
relationship
A.2.b Types of information needed
Explain nature of all services provided. Issues such as purposes, goals, techniques, procedures,
limitations, potential risks and benefits of services; counselor qualifications, credentials,
relevant experience, and approach to counseling. Continuation of services upon incapacitation
or death of the counselor; the role of technology and other pertinent information. Counselors
take steps to ensure the client understands the implications of diagnosis and the intended use
of tests and reports. Also must inform client about fees and billing arrangement, including
procedures for nonpayment of fees. Clients have the right to confidentiality and to be provided
with an explanation of its limits (supervisors and/or treatment or interdisciplinary team
professionals are involved) to obtain clear information about their records, to participate in the
ongoing counseling plans, and to refuse any services or modality changes and to be advised of
the consequences of such refusal.
A.2.c. Developmental and Cultural Sensitivity
Communicate information in ways that are both culturally and developmentally appropriate.
Use clear and understandable language when discussing issues related to informed consent. If
language barriers are present, provide necessary services to ensure comprehension with clients.
, Cultural implications should be considered concerning informed consent procedures and when
possible counselors should adjust their practices accordingly .
A.2.d Inability to give consent
When counseling minors, incapacitate adults or other persons unable to give voluntary consent,
counselors seek the assent of clients to services and include them in decision making as
appropriate. Recognize the need to balance the clients' ethical right to make choices, their
capacity to give consent or assent to receive services, and parental or familiar legal rights and
responsibilities to protect these clients and make decisions on their behalf.
A.2.e Mandated Clients
Discuss the required limitations to confidentiality when working with clients who have been
mandated for counseling services. Explain what type of information and with whom that
information is shared prior to the beginning of counseling. The client may choose to refuse
services. In this care discuss with the client the potential consequences of refusing services.
A.3. Clients served by others
If clients are in a professional relationship with other mental health professionals, they should
request a release from clients to inform the other professional and strive to establish positive
and collaborative professional relationships.
A.4 Avoiding Harm and Imposing Values
A.4.a Avoiding Harm
Act to avoid harm to clients, trainees and research participants and to minimize or to remedy
unavoidable or anticipated harm.
A.4.b Personal Values
Be aware of and avoid imposing own values, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors. Respect diversity of
clients, trainees, and research participants and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of
imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor's values are inconsistent with
the client's goals or are discriminatory in nature
A.5 Prohibited Non-counseling Roles and relationships
Covers Clients/family/friends
A.5.a Sexual and/or romantic relationships prohibited
Principles & Counseling Relationship (Section A)|
Verified A+ Graded Answers Latest Updated 2026
Mission of ACA
The mission of the American Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in society
by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession,
and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and
diversity
There are a number of resources and sources of information that can help guide professional
counselors as they strive to assist clients in an ethical and legal manner:
~ Ethical standards created by professional associations
~ Federal and state laws and regulations
~Policies, guidelines, and procedures created by state boards of education and local school
systems
Ethical standards are normally developed by professional associations to guide the behavior of a
specific group of professionals. Ethical standards help to:
~Educate members about sound ethical conduct
~Provide a mechanism of accountability
~Improve professional practice
The ACA's Code of Ethics is based on Kitchener's five moral principles: autonomy, justice,
beneficence, nonmaleficence, and fidelity.
~Autonomy refers to the concept of independence and the ability to make one's own decisions.
~Justice means treating each person fairly, but it does not mean treating each person the same
way.
~Beneficence refers to doing good or what is in the best interests of the client.
~Nonmaleficence means doing no harm to others.
~Fidelity involves the concepts of loyalty, faithfulness, and honoring commitments.
True
Laws are more prescriptive than ethical standards, have been incorporated into code, and carry
greater sanctions or penalties for failure to comply.
True
,When ethics and laws appear to be in conflict with each other, the professional counselor must
attempt to resolve the conflict in a responsible manner.
True
Because there are greater penalties associated with laws, the counselor will often follow the
legal course of action if there is no harm to the client.
When determining which code of ethics to follow, consider:
~What is the setting in which one is practicing, and is there a particular code that applies
specifically to that setting?
~In what capacity (e.g., licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, certified
school counselor) is the professional operating?
All ACA members 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 Other Professionals,
E) Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation,
F) Supervision, Training, and Teaching,
G) Research and Publication, and
H) Resolving Ethical Issues.
Section A: The Counseling Relationship
Counselors facilitate client growth and development in ways that foster the interest and welfare
of clients and promote formation of healthy relationships. Trust is the cornerstone of the
counseling relationship and counselors have the responsibility to respect and safeguard the
client's right to privacy and confidentiality. Counselors actively attempt to understand the
diverse cultural backgrounds of the clients they serve and should also explore their own cultural
identities and how these affect their values and beliefs about the counseling process. Pro bono
publico is encouraged.
Client Welfare - A.1.a - primary responsibility
To respect the dignity and promote welfare of client
A.1.b - Records and documentation
Create, safeguard and maintain documentation necessary for rendering professional services.
Sufficient and timely documentation to facilitate the delivery and continuity of services. Should
,accurately reflect client's progress and services provided. Properly note amendments according
to agency or institutional policies.
A.1.c - Counseling Plans
Counselor and clients work jointly in devising counseling plans that offer reasonable promise of
success and are consistent with the abilities, temperament, developmental level and
circumstances of clients. Counselors and clients regularly review and revise counseling plans to
assess their continued viability and effectiveness, respecting clients' freedom of choice.
A.1.d - Support Network Involvement
Recognize that support networks hold various meanings in the lives of clients and consider
enlisting the support, understanding and the involvement of others.
A.2 Informed consent in the counseling relationship
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 the obligation to review in writing and verbally with clients the rights and responsibilities
of both clients and counselors. Informed consent is an ongoing process and counselors should
appropriately document discussions of informed consent throughout the counseling
relationship
A.2.b Types of information needed
Explain nature of all services provided. Issues such as purposes, goals, techniques, procedures,
limitations, potential risks and benefits of services; counselor qualifications, credentials,
relevant experience, and approach to counseling. Continuation of services upon incapacitation
or death of the counselor; the role of technology and other pertinent information. Counselors
take steps to ensure the client understands the implications of diagnosis and the intended use
of tests and reports. Also must inform client about fees and billing arrangement, including
procedures for nonpayment of fees. Clients have the right to confidentiality and to be provided
with an explanation of its limits (supervisors and/or treatment or interdisciplinary team
professionals are involved) to obtain clear information about their records, to participate in the
ongoing counseling plans, and to refuse any services or modality changes and to be advised of
the consequences of such refusal.
A.2.c. Developmental and Cultural Sensitivity
Communicate information in ways that are both culturally and developmentally appropriate.
Use clear and understandable language when discussing issues related to informed consent. If
language barriers are present, provide necessary services to ensure comprehension with clients.
, Cultural implications should be considered concerning informed consent procedures and when
possible counselors should adjust their practices accordingly .
A.2.d Inability to give consent
When counseling minors, incapacitate adults or other persons unable to give voluntary consent,
counselors seek the assent of clients to services and include them in decision making as
appropriate. Recognize the need to balance the clients' ethical right to make choices, their
capacity to give consent or assent to receive services, and parental or familiar legal rights and
responsibilities to protect these clients and make decisions on their behalf.
A.2.e Mandated Clients
Discuss the required limitations to confidentiality when working with clients who have been
mandated for counseling services. Explain what type of information and with whom that
information is shared prior to the beginning of counseling. The client may choose to refuse
services. In this care discuss with the client the potential consequences of refusing services.
A.3. Clients served by others
If clients are in a professional relationship with other mental health professionals, they should
request a release from clients to inform the other professional and strive to establish positive
and collaborative professional relationships.
A.4 Avoiding Harm and Imposing Values
A.4.a Avoiding Harm
Act to avoid harm to clients, trainees and research participants and to minimize or to remedy
unavoidable or anticipated harm.
A.4.b Personal Values
Be aware of and avoid imposing own values, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors. Respect diversity of
clients, trainees, and research participants and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of
imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor's values are inconsistent with
the client's goals or are discriminatory in nature
A.5 Prohibited Non-counseling Roles and relationships
Covers Clients/family/friends
A.5.a Sexual and/or romantic relationships prohibited
