1 | Page
Athabasca University
Psychology Counselling Psychology - Ethical
and Legal Aspects of Counselling, Unit #3
Questions and Answers Latest 2026
Ethics Ans: the principles and standards that guide our behavior
toward other people
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
CCPA
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists *(4 principles, 1st is
heighest in weight for making decisions, goes down in order) Ans:
- take every reasonable precaution to protect clients
- I: respect for dignity of persons
II: responsible caring, provides competent services such as
obtaining informed consent, weighing the harm vs. benefit of
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
interventions and by being self-aware and reflective about the
treatment of those who are different *concern for well-being
III: integrity in relationship (honest and morally sound, but
honesty must be tempered with if violates I, or II)
IV: responsibility to society - work in a way that helps person
become better citizen
Morality Ans: judgement or evaluation of action. Associated with
words such as good, bad, right, wrong, ought and should.
Law Ans: - governing standards that are established to ensure legal
and moral justice. Law is created by legislation, court decision and
tradition as in English Common law. The law does not dictate what
is ethical, but only what is legal.
unethical behavior Ans: behavior that does not conform to
generally accepted norms in counselling.
Examples would be:
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
- gossip
- physical intimacy
- exceeding professional competence
- violation of confidentiality
- imposing values on client
- plagiarism
- improper advertising
Limits of ethical codes Ans: - Do not address cross-cultural issues
- Do not address all situations
- conflicts within the standards (differing ethical positions such as
confidentiality and acting in clients best interest).
© 2025 All rights reserved
Athabasca University
Psychology Counselling Psychology - Ethical
and Legal Aspects of Counselling, Unit #3
Questions and Answers Latest 2026
Ethics Ans: the principles and standards that guide our behavior
toward other people
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
CCPA
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists *(4 principles, 1st is
heighest in weight for making decisions, goes down in order) Ans:
- take every reasonable precaution to protect clients
- I: respect for dignity of persons
II: responsible caring, provides competent services such as
obtaining informed consent, weighing the harm vs. benefit of
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
interventions and by being self-aware and reflective about the
treatment of those who are different *concern for well-being
III: integrity in relationship (honest and morally sound, but
honesty must be tempered with if violates I, or II)
IV: responsibility to society - work in a way that helps person
become better citizen
Morality Ans: judgement or evaluation of action. Associated with
words such as good, bad, right, wrong, ought and should.
Law Ans: - governing standards that are established to ensure legal
and moral justice. Law is created by legislation, court decision and
tradition as in English Common law. The law does not dictate what
is ethical, but only what is legal.
unethical behavior Ans: behavior that does not conform to
generally accepted norms in counselling.
Examples would be:
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
- gossip
- physical intimacy
- exceeding professional competence
- violation of confidentiality
- imposing values on client
- plagiarism
- improper advertising
Limits of ethical codes Ans: - Do not address cross-cultural issues
- Do not address all situations
- conflicts within the standards (differing ethical positions such as
confidentiality and acting in clients best interest).
© 2025 All rights reserved
