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Ethics:
Ethics Guideline
Ethical Standards adpoted by ACBHC September 2005.
- Principle 1: Non-Discrimination
I shall affirm diversity among colleagues or clients regardless of age gender, sexual orientation, ethnic/racial background, religious/spiritual beliefs, marital status, political beliefs, or mental/physical disability.
I shall strive to treat all individuals with impartiality and objectivity relating to all based solely on their personal merits and mindful of the dignity of all human persons. As such, I shall not impose my personal values on my clients.
I shall avoid bringing personal or professional issues into the counseling relationship. Through an awareness of the impact of stereotyping and discrimination, I shall guard the individual rights and personal dignity of my clients.
I shall relate to all clients with empathy and understanding no matter what their diagnosis or personal history.
- Principle 2: Client Welfare
I understand that the ability to do good is based on an underlying concern for the well being of others. I shall act for the good of others and exercise respect, sensitivity, and insight. I understand that my primary professional responsibility and loyalty is to the welfare of my clients, and I shall work for the client irrespective of who actually pays his/her fee. .
- I shall do everything possible to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of client information except where the client has given specific, written, informed, and limited consent or when the client poses a risk to himself or others.
- I shall provide the client his/her rights regarding confidentiality, in writing, as part of informing the client of any areas likely to affect the client’s confidentiality.
- I understand and support all that will assist clients to a better quality of life, greater freedom, and true independence.
- I shall not do for others what they can readily do for themselves but rather, facilitate and support the doing. Likewise, I shall not insist on doing what I perceive as good without reference to what the client perceives as good and necessary.
- I understand that suffering is unique to a specific individual and not of some generalized or abstract suffering, such as might be found in the understanding of the disorder. I also understand that the action taken to relieve suffering must be uniquely suited to the suffering individual and not simply some universal prescription.
- I shall provide services without regard to the compensation provided by the client or by a third party and shall render equally appropriate services to individuals whether they are paying a reduced fee or a full fee.
- Principle 3: Client Relationship
I understand and respect the fundamental human right of all individuals to self-determination and to make decisions that they consider in their own best interest. I shall be open and clear about the nature, extent, probable effectiveness, and cost of those services to allow each individual to make an informed decision of their care.
- I shall provide the client and/or guardian with accurate and complete information regarding the extent of the potential professional relationship, such as the Code of Ethics and professional loyalties and responsibilities.
- I shall inform the client and obtain the client’s participation including the recording of the interview, the use of interview material for training purposes, and/or observation of an interview by another person.
- Principle 4: Trustworthiness
I understand that effectiveness in my profession is largely based on the ability to be worthy of trust, and I shall work to the best of my ability to act consistently within the bounds of a known moral universe, to faithfully fulfill the terms of both personal and professional commitments, to safeguard fiduciary relationships consistently, and to speak the truth as it is known to me.
- I shall never misrepresent my credentials or experience.
- I shall make no unsubstantiated claims for the efficacy of the services I provide and make no statements about the nature and course of addictive disorders that have not been verified by scientific inquiry.
- I shall constantly strive for a better understanding of addictive disorders and refuse to accept supposition and prejudice as if it were the truth.
- I understand that ignorance in those matters that should be known does not excuse me from the ethical fault of misinforming others.
- I understand the effect of impairment on professional performance and shall be willing to seek appropriate treatment for myself or for a colleague. I shall support peer assistance programs in this respect.
- I understand that most property in the healing professions is intellectual property and shall not present the ideas or formulations of others as if they were my own. Rather, I shall give appropriate credit to their originators both in written and spoken communication.
- I regard the use of any copyrighted material without permission or the payment of royalty to be theft.
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