Role Of Aca Code Of Ethics In Counseling

Ethical Issues
Quintell Turner
Liberty University

Ethical Issues
Ethics plays a huge role in the counseling profession. The professionals that practice counseling whether group or individual must be very careful not to violate any of the ethics code because it could cause them to lose their career. Counselor and Therapist that work with groups setting have ethical standards that they must adhere to only a daily basis. There are several ethical issues that may present as barriers to counselors and therapist as well as the people that they serve. Whether it is in a group setting or in an individual setting, professional counselor and therapist must be careful staying within code of ethics. Group counseling can offer several relationships
According to the ACA Code of Ethics, in a group setting, counselors take reasonable precautions to protect clients from physical, emotional, or psychological trauma. (A.8.b. Protecting Clients) Counselors must lead a group in a professional manner and make sure that all participants understand that being respectful at all times. Counselor must also make sure that all members of the groups informed of confidentiality and that all information remains confidential within the group. According to ACA Code of Ethics (2005), in group work, counselors clearly explain the importance and parameters of confidentiality for the specific group being entered. Those are two of the most important codes of ethics that may present as an issue in a group setting as well as individual setting. Group leaders must also know that it is unethical for them to use techniques unless they are adequately trained to use the technique or they must be supervised by someone that is thoroughly trained to use the technique. Group counselor also needs to avoid from using a group to benefit for themselves because that can be unethical. The leader should lead the group and help the participants with whatever situation they are going through
There have been so many economically disadvantaged populations that have been exploited during researchers that have not followed any type of ethical guidelines. There are moral codes that should be put into place to protect research with humans that chose to participate in any type of research. There have been several studies performed using human participants that failed due to ethical issues and concerns. The participants were treated poorly by the researchers and not protected as they should under the code of ethics standards. Studies like the Tuskegee study in which the participants were treated poorly and not allowed to leave the study and get medical attention. Another study that failed due to ethical issues was the lead based paint study that did not advise the low income families the purpose of the study as well as the risk that their children may face with the lead based paint. These studies were all performed using disadvantaged individuals that were not advised of any ethical rights that they had as a participant. The participants that were selected in these researches were also uneducated and not know or understand their ethical rights if they were explained to