Full Answer Section

• Informed consent: Clients must be given all the information they need to make informed decisions about their treatment.
• Competence: Counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals must practice within their areas of competence.
• Dual relationships: Counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals should avoid dual relationships with their clients.
• Sexual misconduct: Counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals should not engage in sexual relationships with their clients.
• Record keeping: Counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals must keep accurate records of their clients’ treatment.
• Supervision: Counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals should seek supervision when needed.

The code of ethics is an important tool for protecting the rights and welfare of clients, and for promoting ethical and responsible behavior among counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals.

Here are some of the specific ethical principles that are common to the codes of ethics for counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals:

• Respect for the dignity and worth of the individual: This principle emphasizes the importance of treating all clients with respect, regardless of their background or circumstances.
• Confidentiality: This principle requires counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals to keep their clients’ information confidential.
• Informed consent: This principle requires counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals to obtain their clients’ informed consent before providing treatment.
• Competence: This principle requires counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals to practice within their areas of competence.
• Non-maleficence: This principle requires counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals to avoid harming their clients.
• Beneficence: This principle requires counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals to act in their clients’ best interests.
• Justice: This principle requires counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals to treat all clients fairly and equitably.

The ethical principles outlined above are just a few of the many that are found in the codes of ethics for counselors, psychologists, social workers, and human services professionals. These principles are important for ensuring that these professionals provide safe, ethical, and effective care to their clients.