Code of Ethics Comparison Essay Sample
The intent of this paper is to discourse and name the attending to the fact that there are genera differences and similarities in the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association ( ACA ) and the Code of Ethics of the American Association of Christian Counselors ( AACC ) . In add-on. discuss due diligence the counsellor has to the client. the focal point will be on sexual familiarity. fees and records. There will besides be a contrast of the three facets every bit good. Counselors have an ethical duty to the clients when it come sexual familiarity. fees. and records. The end is to cast some visible radiation on the differences. The result is to do certain that all professional counsellors are good informed that there are some differences in the manner Christian Counselors’ should carry on themselves.
Code of Ethics Comparison
“A adult male is ethical merely when life. as such. is sacred to him. that workss and animate beings as that of his fellow work forces. and when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in demand of help” ( Albert Schweitzer ) . What did Schweitzer mean by this statement. one may presume and some may inquire about such a wide statement? The significance of the statement is that regardless of whatever or whomever one may assist ; the interior adult male provokes that single to adhere to the codification of moralss in his or her profession. What’s the definition of moralss? Webster New World Dictionary defines ethic as “as the survey of criterions of behavior. ” Never the lupus erythematosus. the treatment is on the codification of moralss. Clinton & A ; Ohlschlager stated. “The codification of moralss is a systematic statement of ethical criterions that represent the moral strong beliefs and steer the pattern behaviour of a group. in this instance. the assorted guidance disciplines” ( Clinton & A ; Ohlschlager. 2002. pp. 245 ) . Different professions have their ain codification of moralss ; and the aim of this paper is to compare and contrast codifications of the American Counseling Association ( ACA ) and the American Association Christian Counselors ( AACC ) codification of moralss.
There are noteworthy differences in the ACA codifications and the AACC codifications. The prevailing difference in the AACC is the application of Christian nomenclature. The debut of the AACC codifications is geared toward service. As stated. “The Code is designed to help AACC members to better function their clients and congregants and to better the work of Christian guidance worldwide. It will assist accomplish the primary ends of the AACC—to bring award to Jesus Christ and his church. promote excellence in Christian guidance. and convey integrity to Christian counselors” ( American Association Christian Counselors. 2004 ) In other words. the codifications are entirely based on the Bible. But. the debut of the ACA codifications appears to hold a contractual duty tone. “Counselors recognize that trust is a basis of the guidance relationship. Counselors aspire to gain the trust of clients by making an on-going partnership. set uping and upholding appropriate boundaries. and keeping confidentiality. Counselors communicate the parametric quantities of confidentiality in a culturally competent manner” ( American Counseling Association. 2005 ) . The nomenclature and tone is more of a concern understanding. there’s no feeling of empathy toward the client. There are similarities ; they both place accent on keeping confidentiality through maintaining records safe. In add-on. to obtain a certain degree of competence. moreover. the overall concern is for the client to do no injury to the client.
Sexual misconduct is the first codification to compared and contrasted. In about every profession sexual misconduct with a client. employer and/or any associated member of your employment is out. The American Association of Christian Counselors ( AACC ) is non an exclusion and such Acts of the Apostless are considered immoral and unethical. For illustration. direct sexual contact. solicitation of sex. and any other signifiers of sexual purposes merely to call a few. The sexual misconduct codification is unambiguous and it has no gray countries. This is true for both the Christian and standard codifications. However. the American Counseling Association codification provinces. “Sexual or romantic counselor–client interactions or relationships with former clients. their romantic spouses. or their household members are prohibited for a period of 5 old ages following the last professional contact” ( ACA. 2005 ) . Unlike the AACC. there are no exclusions. The AACC is restricted by scriptural values and all sexual misconduct is immoral.
As stated in Code 1-130. out sexual Acts of the Apostless include. “Anonymous practical interaction via the Internet or other electronic and informational agencies ; sexual torment by remarks. touch. or promises/threats of particular action ; and sexual misconduct as defined by all applicable Torahs. moralss. and church. organisational. or pattern policies” ( AACC. 2004 ) . There are no legislative acts of restriction or termination day of the months included in this codification. The codification really stipulates. “All sexual dealingss as defined in 1-130 above with former clients are unethical. Furthermore. we do non end and mention clients or parishioners. even at first contact. in order to prosecute sexual or romantic relations” ( AACC. 2004 ) . In contrast. the ACA does non include practical interaction by manner of cyberspace. which eliminates one of the most critical portion sexual communications. The 7th FOUNDATION of the AACA Code provinces. “Christian counsellors are aware of their representation of Christ and his church and are dedicated to honour their committednesss and duties in all societal and professional relations” ( AACA. 2004 ) .
Fees will be the following codification that will be reviewed. is it ethical or unethical? The codification of moralss for Christian Counselors clearly recommends that the fees are set at sensible rate and non entirely for profitable addition. And the fees and regulations will be outlined for the client as possible. However. the Christian counsellors can put their ain fees. Code 1-512 suggest “ to utilize skiding fee agendas scaled to client’s ability to pay. and other decreased payment methods to increase reding handiness to those of lesser fiscal means” ( AACC. 2004 ) . On the contrary. the ACA suggest that if a client can non afford the fees of a private counsellor. it is merely ethical to help the client in happening a more low-cost service. The ACA codification of moralss besides points out that if a client does non pay for services that he or she can be turned over to aggregations ; nevertheless. the AACC does non do mention to unpaid fees. Alternatively. AACC code 1-514 provinces. “Counselors avoid fiscal patterns that consequence or look to ensue in greedy and ego functioning results.
We do non choose clients or prolong therapy based on their ability to pay high fees. nor do we rapidly end reding with low-fee clients. When doing referrals. we do non split fees with other professionals nor accept or give anything of value for doing the referral. We do non overstate jobs nor refer entirely for specialised services to acquire clients into particular plans or establishments in which we have a proprietary interest” ( AACC 2004 ) . The ACA besides recommends bartering and gifts. nevertheless with cautiousness. Undoubtedly. record maintaining is really of import. The ACA and AACC recognize and anticipate all counsellors to adhere to the moralss set Forth. Confidentiality between the client and counsellor are outlined in both set of codifications. In add-on they each specify that the records be kept in a unafraid topographic point and merely authorised forces have entree. ACA codification emphasizes the importance of the client consent entering any Sessionss. However. as stated before the AACC codifications are more elaborate. For illustration. “Confidential client communications include all verbal. written. telephonic. sound or video-taped. or electronic communications originating within the assisting relationship” ( AACC 1-410 ) .
The usage of watchwords is besides suggested by the AACC Furthermore. clients should experience secure in unwraping all pertinent information to the counsellor. Therefore. the AACC and ACA codifications insure that the client feels comfy with counsellor. Thus. doing certain before reding Sessionss begin the client is informed. The AACC Code 1-411 explains. “Clients should be informed about both the counselor’s committedness to confidentiality and its bounds before prosecuting in reding. Christian counsellors avoid saying or connoting that confidentiality is guaranteed or absolute. We will discourse the bounds of confidentiality and privateness with clients at the beginning of reding. ” Confidentiality is pertinate but what happens to the clients records after the expiration of services is merely every bit of import.
Therefore. the ACA Code B. 6. g. degree Celsius stresses the importance. “Counselors store records following expiration of services to guarantee sensible future entree. maintain records in conformity with province and federal legislative acts regulating records. and dispose of client records and other sensitive stuffs in a mode that protects client confidentiality” ( ACC. 2005 ) . On the contrary. this is one codification that the AACC does non travel into inside informations. This is by no agencies to state the AACC does non recognize the importance of client’s confidentiality. But. there are no ideal state of affairss. There will ever be defects but every counsellor should swear there God given inherent aptitudes. In decision. the codification of moralss should be followed by all professions. It is so of import that on realize that being able to advocate is a gift. So many people are aching. It is wisdom that will be the make up one’s minding factor as to how each state of affairs is handled
Mentions
American Counseling Association. ( 2005 ) . Licensure demands for professional counsellors Alexandria. VA: Writer.
American Association of Christian Counselors ( AACC ) . ( 2004 ) . AACC Christian Counseling
Code of Ethics Forest. VA: AACC
Clinton & A ; Ohlschlager ( 2002 ) . Competent Christian guidance: Foundations and pattern of compassionate psyche attention. Colorado Springs. Carbon monoxide: WaterBrook Imperativeness
