This document outlines the professional ethics that counselors should follow in their work. It discusses that every profession has a code of ethics to guide behaviors. For counselors, their values and techniques for helping clients should be guided by their ethical standards. The counselor must respect the client's values and keep their discussions confidential, with few exceptions. They should maintain high professional standards, refer clients to others when needed, and not accept clients who are already receiving counseling elsewhere. The counselor's own well-being and private life should also be respected.

1. Ch 15 The Counsellor’s Professional Ethics

2. Introduction Every profession has in some form or other a Code of Ethics Profession of psychologists- a more recent one US -> American Psychological Association has Ethical Standards of Psychologists Purpose of this chapter-> to formulate guiding principles of the Profession of Psychologists

3. Meaning of Professional Ethics A systematized body of moral principles that guide or determine the counsellor’s behavior in his relationships to the counselee, to the counselee's relatives, to his referring agency, and to society in general Professional Ethics -> Values that determine the counsellor’s behavior

4. Values Standards of behavior determined by the society Eg. Good manners, traditions such as wedding reception, etc. Differ according to races, castes, etc. Change under influence of modern ideas Social Values Based on dictates of right reason- one’s conscience Innate knowledge of what is right & wrong Apply to all men Are objective & unchangeable Eg. love parents, not to steal/tell lies Based on enduring nature of human being Moral Values Based on particular faith & vary according to the tenets of that faith Eg. Hindus value Vedas, Jains avoid killing of animals, Parsis value their fire temples, etc. Religious Values

5. The Counseling Profession Aims at helping individuals with their personal problems These problems often involve ethical issues (eg. Real life case) Values influence both the goals of counseling & the methods & techniques used to reach those goals “ The psychologist’s ethical standards & his professional techniques are inseparable”- American Psychological Association’s code of ethics

6. Counselor’s relationships

7. 1. Counselor’s relationship to the Counselee Counselor must respect the values of the counselee Can suggest to change her social values (not the moral or religious values) B) Counselor must keep secret the counselee's confidential material May not reveal info to anyone without securing her permission Exceptions: Suicide or crime or for the good of the counselee (unsound mind), welfare of others C) Test results must be interpreted to the counselee in a manner likely to be constructive in her efforts to solve her problem

8. 2. Counselor’s relationship to the Profession Counselor must maintain high standards of work, not just aim at expedience or temporary success Unethical to offer services outside his area of training & experience or beyond the boundary of his competence (must refer to a competent person) Should not work only for money B) Should try to rectify the malpractices of other counselors Should not criticize counselors who use other methods C) Counselor should not accept for counseling a person who already receiving it from someone else

9. 3. Counselor’s relationship to referring bodies It is courtesy to inform the referring person or agency that the counselee kept the appointment and is continuing counseling or has been referred to another agency No confidential info should be imparted to them

10. 4. Counselor’s relationship to himself Right to private life and to relaxation May not accept phone calls after certain hour Must leave the problems of the counselee in the office Should not encourage dependency Should realize that he is not expected to help each and every counselee

11. Counselor’s influence on the counselee Counselor is not to teach a system of values or philosophy of life (task of parents/ priests) Can impress his system of values – influence more by what he does than by what he says Should not condone the unethical course of behavior of the counselee- express implications of such actions but should respect her freedom of choice

12. Conclusion Counselor should have his own system of values or philosophy of life Act according to the above with the counselee Must not impose his views Respect her freedom of choice and her values

13. Thank you