1. Running head: FINAL PROJECT – WEEK 8
Final Project – Week 8
Roberta Simpkin
Argosy University

2. Final
Now that I have completed this course, I do have established some educated
opinions as to the field of ethics in psychology but I do not feel I am expertise enough to
challenge the code of ethics as to suggest changes or make improvements. These codes
have had experts in the field of Psychology to formulate them and the psychologists that
contributed in writing the code of ethics have years of experience in the field. I would
not know how to suggest how I could make them any better than they are now. As far as
any being too restrictive, I did not find this in my reading of the ACA and APA codes of
ethics.
I think a good counselor should aspire to want to be the best counselor he/she can be
with regard to ethical behavior and responsibility. When counselors are faced with
ethical dilemmas that are difficult to resolve, they are expected to engage in a carefully
considered ethical decision-making process. That is why the code of ethics was
established – to provide the counselor with a guide in ethical decision-making. Now
there will be reasonable differences of opinion among counselors with respect to the
ways in which values, ethical principles, and ethical standards will be applied when they
conflict and there is no specific ethical decision-making model. Counselors are expected
to be familiar with a credible model of decision-making. Through a chosen ethical
decision-making process and evaluation of the situation, counselors are empowered to
make decisions that help expand the capacity of people to grow and develop. The ethics

3. Final
codes provides a set of principles and standards upon which the counselor and
psychologist can build their professional and scientific work (Argosy University, 2010).
Psychology is the field of study dealing with the mind, brain, human and animal
behavior, and social interactions. Counselors and psychologists are committed in
increasing in their clients the knowledge of behavior and the client’s understanding of
themselves and other people and help people to use such knowledge to improve the
client’s condition. Counselors and psychologists respect and want to protect their client’s
welfare. They help the client in making informed judgments and choices concerning
human behavior. They are a researcher, educator, diagnostician, therapist, supervisor,
consultant, administrator, social interventionist, and expert witness. The ethics code’s
goals are the welfare and protection of the client with whom the counselor and
psychologist work with regarding ethical standards of the discipline (Argosy University,
2010).
Counselors and psychologists want to establish a relationship of trust with their
clients and seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching,
and practice of psychology. In these activities, psychologists do not steal, cheat, or
engage in fraud, subterfuge, or intentional misrepresentation (APA Code of Ethics).
Counselors and psychologists respect the dignity and self-worth of all people, and the
rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination (Argosy
University, 2010).

4. Final
Setting goals provides both practitioners and clients a solution to work toward an
outcome to reach. Counselors and psychologists have a vision of what the situation will
look like when they are through with the process of therapy. Counselors and
psychologists however, should remember that setting goals is a two-way process and both
the client and the practitioners should always work together. The counselor and
psychologist must always communicate the goals to the clients and involve them in
setting the goals. Ethics plays a major role in defining the goals (Argosy University,
2010).

5. Final
References:
American Counseling Association (2005). American Counseling Association Code of
Ethics, Alexandria, VA, Retrieved December 16, 2010, from:
http://www.counseling.org
American Psychological Association (2010). American Psychological Association,
Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct, Retrieved December 16,
2010, from: http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx
Argosy University (2010). PSY430 XA: Ethics in Psychology: Module 8, Retrieved on
December 16, 2010, from: http://www.myeclassonline.com
Parsons, R. (2000). The Ethics of Professional Practice (1st edition). Needham Heights,
MA. Publisher: Allyn & Bacon, A Pearson Education Company