Differences Between ACA And AACC: Ethical Codes
ACA and AACC: Ethics Codes Compared
Liberty University
Abstract
Codes of ethics are guidelines that are created to give various professions and organizations a structure in which to work within. Codes of ethics could be considered structured behavioral ideals for professional people to follow. And, for the purpose of this paper several ethical codes for counseling professionals from both the American Counseling Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors will be examined. The ACA and the AACC are specialized organizations that emphasize one’s duty as a professional counselor to every client. However, the two organizations base their standards on very different foundations. The ACA basis …show more content…
for ethical standards is secular while the AACC centers its ethical standards on Bible teachings and scripture. Further, this paper will examine the similarities and differences that both the ACA and the AACC have on the issues of confidentiality, colleague relationships, and fees.
Introduction The code of ethics are a means in which to protect consumers or clients while providing the professional counselor with requirements for delivering effect services. Additionally, codes of ethics offer a foundation to individuals within the counseling profession to “establish principles that define ethical behavior and best practices” within an institution or organization (Ponton, 2009). In this assignment the similarities and differences between the ethics codes of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) will be discussed. Further, the codes of ethics that are examined for this paper will be confidientiality,colleague relationships, and fees; the similiaries and differences of these ethical codes will be discussed in regards to both the ACA and the AACC.
Section I: ACA and AACC The American Counseling Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors stress the importance of counselor’s competence, respect, training, and experience. Both entities emphasize the importance that counselors work within the boundaries of their realm of qualification. However, both codes of ethics sets a standard for counselors to always expand their level of expertise/training and competence by always seeking new educational opportunities. Furthermore, both the ACA and AACC codes address the issues of duties that counselors have to monitor their performance, their duty to refer clients to more qualified counseling professionals, as necessary. While the emphasis on various issues are the same within both institutions, the AACC goes further than the ACA in its guidelines. The AACC places much weight on following Christian principles, for instance, when counselors make referral to other counselors as he or she recognizes that a problem is beyond their scope of expertise he or she should refer that client to a Christian Counselor. As a matter of fact, the AACC states “When consulting or referring, Christian counselors seek out the best Christian help at a higher level of knowledge, skill, and expertise” (AACC Code of Ethics, 2004). Obviously, the idea behind this policy or ethic rule is grounded on the belief that for effective interventions to work it should be based on Biblical scripture and truth.
In contrast, the ACA’s ideas behind it’s ethic rules and standards are based on secular social morals, legal obligations, and professional codes of conduct.
Section II: Confidentiality The ACA and the AACC place great importance on confidentiality, both institutions a have clear and precise understanding of the imperativeness counselor’s ethical obligation and respect of individual rights and privacy. Furthermore, each association stresses that counselors explain these rights about confidentiality to the client in an appropriate setting and manner. Additionally, the ACA and the AACC points out the importance protecting clients’ rights when sharing information about the client with other professionals, organizations, insurance companies, and family members. Last, institutions also express the importance of clients knowing and understanding the limits of confidentiality, such as, when legal issues arise or for the protection of another individual as threats of harm have been made by the client. Conversely, the most noticeable difference between the ACA and AACC on the issue of confidentitality is the probability of breach on confidentiality for religious reasons. As a matter of fact, the AACC states that counselors “do not disclose confidential client communications in any supervisory, consultation, teachnng, preaching, publishing or other activity without written or other legal authorization by the client” (AACC Code of Ethics, 2004). And, this means that the AACC clearly recognizes the potential that many counselors are affilifated or involved with religious organizations as preachers, pastors and/or group leaders which could open the door for these counselors to share stories or accounts from their counseling sessions for instructional purposes. Therefore, the AACC strictly prohibits this practice.
Section II: Colleague Relationships The ACA and AACC have ethics based on the relationship which develop among professional counselors, both institutions state that counselors will strive to do no harm.
And, when professional counselors witness or become aware of ethical violation of a colleague then an intervention must take place, it is a professional counselor ethical obligation to intervene. The aforementioned fact is clear in the codes of ethics in the ACA and AACC. Both institution state that professional counselors seek consultation with another professional, approach the offending counselor about the violation and discuss the issue as long as confidentiality is not in jeopardy, and reporting the violation, if necessary. And, unfortunately sometimes a professional counselor must report ethical violation of a colleague to the proper authorities, although most professional would rather avoid having to report a colleague. The AACC states that a Christian counselor must have reliable proof and knowledge that an ethical violation or legal violation has taken place prior to any action or reporting of a colleague (AACC, Code of Ethics, 2004). The AACC also speaks to conflicts that can occur among professional counselors and how those conflicts should be resolved. The AACC says that “Christian counselors always first seek peaceable and biblically-defensible resolution to disputes” (AACC, Code of Ethics, 2004). On the other hand, the ACA also speaks to the issue of ethical or legal violations of colleagues by stating that it requires that professional counselors have a reasonable belief that a violation has taken place. The ACA also talks about the resolution of ethical conflict by stating that if a counselor thinks a colleague has violated ethical standards that he or she “attempt first to resolve the issue informally with the other counselor if feasible, provided such action does not violate confidentiality rights that may be involved” (ACA, Codes of Ethics, 2005). Of course, the obvious
difference between the ACA’s and AACC’s view of conflict resolution between colleagues is that the AACC demands that biblical scripture and Christ be the foreground to solving conflicts.
Section II: Fees The ACA and the AACC both address the matter of fees, both institutions stress the importance of establishing fees that are fair and take into account a client’s ability to pay, however, to this extent the commonalities between the two associations comes to an end as the ACA speaks to the issue of bartering and gifts as it pertains to payment. The ACA code of ethics states “ Counselors may barter only if the relationship is not exploitive or harmful and does not place the counselor in an unfair advantage, if the client requests it, and if such arrangements are an accepted practice among professionals in the community” (ACA, Code of Ethics, 2005). Further, the ACA code goes on to say that it is acceptable for counselors to receive gifts from clients as it is considered appropriate in some cultures, it states “ When determining whether or not to accept a gift from clients, counselors take into account the therapeutic relationship, the monetary value of the gift, a client’s motivation for giving the gift, and the counselor’s motivation for wanting or declining the gift” (ACA, Code of Ethics, 2005). Conversely, the AACC does not speak to bartering and gifts as a means of payment from clients but it does express ethics about sliding scales and pro bono work. In fact, the AACC ethics say “Clinicians are encouraged, however, to use sliding fee schedules, scaled to client’s ability to pay, and other reduced payment methods to increase counseling accessibility to those of lesser financial means” (AACC, Code of Ethics, 2004). Which means that counselors are not to turn potential clients away just because of their inability to pay. Furthermore, AACC code of ethics continues by stating “Christian counselors are encouraged, beyond their fee schedule, to make a portion of their time and services available without cost or at a greatly reduced fee to those unable to pay” (AACC, Code of Ethics, 2004) and this means that Christian counselors are expected to volunteer or give services to those in need with no expectation of anything in return other than the satisfaction that you are aiding those in need as God’s word instructs us to do.
Conclusion
In this paper the author has laid out the similarities and differences between the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) codes of ethics in the areas of confidentiality, colleague relationships, and fees. Both the ACA and the AACC lay out a solid and structured foundation for professional counselors to follow in regards to the aforementioned ethical areas while both are similar in their standards for the professional counselor the AACC goes beyond basic rules and regulations. The AACC places a great deal of emphasis and expectancy on making God and the scripture a major part of one’s counseling practice and relationships in respects to the areas of confidentiality, colleague relationships, and fees. Additionally, the AACC highlights the importance that counselor depend on God first and their own knowledge and expertise second in the practice of counseling others. On a final note, the clear difference between the ACA and the AACC is that the AACC codes of ethics is based exclusively on Christian values, standards and guidelines which is apparent as the AACC code of ethics begins with seven biblical-ethical foundations.
References AACC Code of Ethics (2004) American Association of Christian Counselors Retrieved March 27, 2013 from http://www.liberty.edu/media/1118[5975]AACC Christian _Code_of_Ethics
ACA Code of Ethics (2005) American Counseling Association dl, A. F., Pupo, M. Retrieved March 27, 2013 from http://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
Ponton, R. F. (2009). The "ACA code of Ethics": Articulating Counseling 's Professional Covenant. Journal of Counseling & Development, 87, 117-119.
Liberty University
Abstract
Codes of ethics are guidelines that are created to give various professions and organizations a structure in which to work within. Codes of ethics could be considered structured behavioral ideals for professional people to follow. And, for the purpose of this paper several ethical codes for counseling professionals from both the American Counseling Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors will be examined. The ACA and the AACC are specialized organizations that emphasize one’s duty as a professional counselor to every client. However, the two organizations base their standards on very different foundations. The ACA basis …show more content…
for ethical standards is secular while the AACC centers its ethical standards on Bible teachings and scripture. Further, this paper will examine the similarities and differences that both the ACA and the AACC have on the issues of confidentiality, colleague relationships, and fees.
Introduction The code of ethics are a means in which to protect consumers or clients while providing the professional counselor with requirements for delivering effect services. Additionally, codes of ethics offer a foundation to individuals within the counseling profession to “establish principles that define ethical behavior and best practices” within an institution or organization (Ponton, 2009). In this assignment the similarities and differences between the ethics codes of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) will be discussed. Further, the codes of ethics that are examined for this paper will be confidientiality,colleague relationships, and fees; the similiaries and differences of these ethical codes will be discussed in regards to both the ACA and the AACC.
Section I: ACA and AACC The American Counseling Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors stress the importance of counselor’s competence, respect, training, and experience. Both entities emphasize the importance that counselors work within the boundaries of their realm of qualification. However, both codes of ethics sets a standard for counselors to always expand their level of expertise/training and competence by always seeking new educational opportunities. Furthermore, both the ACA and AACC codes address the issues of duties that counselors have to monitor their performance, their duty to refer clients to more qualified counseling professionals, as necessary. While the emphasis on various issues are the same within both institutions, the AACC goes further than the ACA in its guidelines. The AACC places much weight on following Christian principles, for instance, when counselors make referral to other counselors as he or she recognizes that a problem is beyond their scope of expertise he or she should refer that client to a Christian Counselor. As a matter of fact, the AACC states “When consulting or referring, Christian counselors seek out the best Christian help at a higher level of knowledge, skill, and expertise” (AACC Code of Ethics, 2004). Obviously, the idea behind this policy or ethic rule is grounded on the belief that for effective interventions to work it should be based on Biblical scripture and truth.
In contrast, the ACA’s ideas behind it’s ethic rules and standards are based on secular social morals, legal obligations, and professional codes of conduct.
Section II: Confidentiality The ACA and the AACC place great importance on confidentiality, both institutions a have clear and precise understanding of the imperativeness counselor’s ethical obligation and respect of individual rights and privacy. Furthermore, each association stresses that counselors explain these rights about confidentiality to the client in an appropriate setting and manner. Additionally, the ACA and the AACC points out the importance protecting clients’ rights when sharing information about the client with other professionals, organizations, insurance companies, and family members. Last, institutions also express the importance of clients knowing and understanding the limits of confidentiality, such as, when legal issues arise or for the protection of another individual as threats of harm have been made by the client. Conversely, the most noticeable difference between the ACA and AACC on the issue of confidentitality is the probability of breach on confidentiality for religious reasons. As a matter of fact, the AACC states that counselors “do not disclose confidential client communications in any supervisory, consultation, teachnng, preaching, publishing or other activity without written or other legal authorization by the client” (AACC Code of Ethics, 2004). And, this means that the AACC clearly recognizes the potential that many counselors are affilifated or involved with religious organizations as preachers, pastors and/or group leaders which could open the door for these counselors to share stories or accounts from their counseling sessions for instructional purposes. Therefore, the AACC strictly prohibits this practice.
Section II: Colleague Relationships The ACA and AACC have ethics based on the relationship which develop among professional counselors, both institutions state that counselors will strive to do no harm.
And, when professional counselors witness or become aware of ethical violation of a colleague then an intervention must take place, it is a professional counselor ethical obligation to intervene. The aforementioned fact is clear in the codes of ethics in the ACA and AACC. Both institution state that professional counselors seek consultation with another professional, approach the offending counselor about the violation and discuss the issue as long as confidentiality is not in jeopardy, and reporting the violation, if necessary. And, unfortunately sometimes a professional counselor must report ethical violation of a colleague to the proper authorities, although most professional would rather avoid having to report a colleague. The AACC states that a Christian counselor must have reliable proof and knowledge that an ethical violation or legal violation has taken place prior to any action or reporting of a colleague (AACC, Code of Ethics, 2004). The AACC also speaks to conflicts that can occur among professional counselors and how those conflicts should be resolved. The AACC says that “Christian counselors always first seek peaceable and biblically-defensible resolution to disputes” (AACC, Code of Ethics, 2004). On the other hand, the ACA also speaks to the issue of ethical or legal violations of colleagues by stating that it requires that professional counselors have a reasonable belief that a violation has taken place. The ACA also talks about the resolution of ethical conflict by stating that if a counselor thinks a colleague has violated ethical standards that he or she “attempt first to resolve the issue informally with the other counselor if feasible, provided such action does not violate confidentiality rights that may be involved” (ACA, Codes of Ethics, 2005). Of course, the obvious
difference between the ACA’s and AACC’s view of conflict resolution between colleagues is that the AACC demands that biblical scripture and Christ be the foreground to solving conflicts.
Section II: Fees The ACA and the AACC both address the matter of fees, both institutions stress the importance of establishing fees that are fair and take into account a client’s ability to pay, however, to this extent the commonalities between the two associations comes to an end as the ACA speaks to the issue of bartering and gifts as it pertains to payment. The ACA code of ethics states “ Counselors may barter only if the relationship is not exploitive or harmful and does not place the counselor in an unfair advantage, if the client requests it, and if such arrangements are an accepted practice among professionals in the community” (ACA, Code of Ethics, 2005). Further, the ACA code goes on to say that it is acceptable for counselors to receive gifts from clients as it is considered appropriate in some cultures, it states “ When determining whether or not to accept a gift from clients, counselors take into account the therapeutic relationship, the monetary value of the gift, a client’s motivation for giving the gift, and the counselor’s motivation for wanting or declining the gift” (ACA, Code of Ethics, 2005). Conversely, the AACC does not speak to bartering and gifts as a means of payment from clients but it does express ethics about sliding scales and pro bono work. In fact, the AACC ethics say “Clinicians are encouraged, however, to use sliding fee schedules, scaled to client’s ability to pay, and other reduced payment methods to increase counseling accessibility to those of lesser financial means” (AACC, Code of Ethics, 2004). Which means that counselors are not to turn potential clients away just because of their inability to pay. Furthermore, AACC code of ethics continues by stating “Christian counselors are encouraged, beyond their fee schedule, to make a portion of their time and services available without cost or at a greatly reduced fee to those unable to pay” (AACC, Code of Ethics, 2004) and this means that Christian counselors are expected to volunteer or give services to those in need with no expectation of anything in return other than the satisfaction that you are aiding those in need as God’s word instructs us to do.
Conclusion
In this paper the author has laid out the similarities and differences between the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) codes of ethics in the areas of confidentiality, colleague relationships, and fees. Both the ACA and the AACC lay out a solid and structured foundation for professional counselors to follow in regards to the aforementioned ethical areas while both are similar in their standards for the professional counselor the AACC goes beyond basic rules and regulations. The AACC places a great deal of emphasis and expectancy on making God and the scripture a major part of one’s counseling practice and relationships in respects to the areas of confidentiality, colleague relationships, and fees. Additionally, the AACC highlights the importance that counselor depend on God first and their own knowledge and expertise second in the practice of counseling others. On a final note, the clear difference between the ACA and the AACC is that the AACC codes of ethics is based exclusively on Christian values, standards and guidelines which is apparent as the AACC code of ethics begins with seven biblical-ethical foundations.
References AACC Code of Ethics (2004) American Association of Christian Counselors Retrieved March 27, 2013 from http://www.liberty.edu/media/1118[5975]AACC Christian _Code_of_Ethics
ACA Code of Ethics (2005) American Counseling Association dl, A. F., Pupo, M. Retrieved March 27, 2013 from http://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
Ponton, R. F. (2009). The "ACA code of Ethics": Articulating Counseling 's Professional Covenant. Journal of Counseling & Development, 87, 117-119.