Ethics Department Service

Have an ethical or professional dilemma?

Need to talk with someone regarding options?

Ethical dilemmas, revisions and professional standards are all around us these days... from our political leaders in Washington D.C. to our own profession of counseling. Assistance with these issues is at hand. ACA offers FREE ethics/professional standards consultation FIVE days a week between 8:30 and 4:30 Eastern Time. Most inquiries are answered within 24 hours (it may take up to 72 hours during very busy times, or if the inquiry requires specific research). The Professional Affairs staff values the opportunity to provide you with this service. Professional assistance is only an e-mail/letter and phone call away. Contact ACA Ethics and Professional Standards Department at 1-800-347-6647, ext.314 or e-mail: ethics@counseling.org.

• Layperson's Guide to Counselor Ethics

2005 ACA Code of Ethics.

2005 ACA Code of Ethics (PDF)
Highlights of the ACA Code of Ethics

Note: The 2005 code supercedes the previous 1995 version. If you wish to view the older version for comparison purposes, you may do so here. (PDF)

Ethics Update

(Ten Interviews highlighting major changes in the revised code of ethics)

• Part 1 - The end of 'clear and imminent danger'
• Part 2 - Romantic/sexual relationships
• Part 3 - Allowing dual relationships
• Part 4 - End-of-life care for terminally ill clients
• Part 5 - A new focus on cultural sensitivity
• Part 6 - Permission to refrain from making a diagnosis
• Part 7 - New mandates for selecting interventions
• Part 8 - New requirement to have a transfer plan
• Part 9 - Ethical use of technology in counseling
• Part 10 - Obligations for protecting the confidentiality of the deceased

More Ethics Resources

• Practitioner's Guide to Ethics
• State Licensure Boards that have Adopted the ACA Code of Ethics (PDF) (2008)
• Ethical issues related to conversion or reparative therapy

Policy And Procedures For Processing Complaints Of Ethical Violations