The ACA Code of Ethics: Articulating Counselings Professional Covenant

RichardF.PontonandJillD.Duba
The ACA Code of Ethics (American Counseling Association, 2005) is an articulation of the ever-changing relationship between counseling professionals and society. It provides clear parameters of behaviors to meet the changing needs of the people counselors are called to serve. This article reviews the 2005 Code as both a statement of counselor identity and an ethical covenant with society.

Inthemid-1970s,therewasalocaltavernlocatedinasmalltown inNewJersey.Longandnarrow,afavoritestoponthewayhome fromworkformanyofthemenofthetown,itwasindeedaplace whereeverybodyknewyourname.Whatmadethisbardifferent fromalltheotherswasthatattheveryend,wherethebarcurved towardthewall,wasasignthatreadProfessionalsCorner.In thisblue-collarbar,therulewasthatifyouworeanecktietowork, yousatdownthere.Thoseintiessawitasanhonor;however,no onereallyknewwhichgroupestablishedthecorner. Thegenerationthatfrequentedthatbarhascertainlyretired, thebarisclosed,andthatProfessionalsCornerislongforgotten. Nevertheless,therecontinuestobeinsocietyatlargeaprofessional corner,withitscriteriaforadmission,itsrights,anditsresponsibilities.Fornearly100years,thecounselingprofessionhasbeen establishingitsplaceattheprofessionalcorner.Thedevelopment ofprofessionalorganizations,educationalprogramsandstandards, andthelegalrecognitionoflicensurecontributestotheprofessions placeatthatprofessionalcorner.Still,theessentialelementofa profession,itstickettotheprofessionalcorner,istherelationship oftheprofession,collectivelyandindividually,withsociety.Inlate 2005,theAmericanCounselingAssociation(ACA)reaffirmedthe essenceandrevisedthearticulationofthatrelationshipbyrevisingtheCode of Ethics and Standards of Practice(ACA,1995). Thepurposeofthisarticleistoreflectontherelationshipofthe ACA Code of Ethics(ACA,2005)inthecontextofthecounseling professionsrelationshiptosociety.

The Definition of Profession

Tobeginadiscussionaboutthecontextofthecounselingprofession,webelievethatitisimportanttosetthestageofwhatthe termprofessionactuallymeans.Thereislittleinthecounseling literaturethatdefinesaprofessionwithaccuracy.Likethepeople inthetavern,theliteraturehasdefinedprofessionalgroupsnotin termsofthenatureoftheservicetheyperform,butratherbywhat externalsignstheyhaveincommonwithotherswhoarecalled professional.Clearly,professionalismgoesbeyondthattaverns criterionofwearinganecktietowork.Theclassicalconceptof theprofessionalwaslimitedtophysicians,clergy,andlawyers.

Bythe18thcentury,ithadextendedtomilitaryofficers.During the19thcentury,withincreasedtechnologyandurbanization, thetermprofessionalwasappliedtoanever-wideninggroupof occupations(Gardner&Shulman,2005). Anoccupationdoesnotbecomeaprofessionmerelybecause itsmembersdecideitwillbeone.Itdoesnotbecomeaprofessionmerelybyanactofstateorfederallegislature.Furthermore, itdoesnotevenbecomeaprofessionbycollectingthevarious hallmarks,likeaBoyScoutcollectingmeritbadgestoreach thenextrank.Rather,asthehistoriesofprofessionsdemonstrate, theybeginwithandgrowfromsignificantneedsofsociety.In thecaseoftheclassicalprofessions,health,order,meaning,and securitywereclearlytheexistentialneedsrecognizedbysociety. Itwasthoseneedsthatestablishedthevocation,thecalling,of physician,lawyer,clergyman,andsoldier,respectively.Those needsweresoimportant,andsospecific,thatitwasnecessary tocallmenandonlymen(Witz,1992)toaddressthemon behalfofthepublic.Thoseneedsweresovitalthatthemenwho weresocalledwouldhavetobeimbuedwithpublicrespectand trust,extraordinaryprivilege,andexceptionfromcertainsocietal norms.Theywouldbelearnedandwouldmaintainanesoteric body of knowledge.They, in each of their respective fields, wouldbegrantedamonopoly,autonomy,andself-regulation.In responsetosuchacallfromsocietyandsuchtrust,thesemen wouldpubliclypromise(themeaningofthewordprofess)toact pro bono publicoforthegoodofthepublic. Modernprofessionssharemuchincommonwiththeclassicalprofessions.Thehallmarksthathavecometocharacterize aprofessionarebasedonthemedievalmodels:aguild,high levels of education, public recognition, and a specialized bodyofknowledge.Itmaybeargued,however,thatthemost important commonality between the classical and modern professionsisthevocationtoaddresstheverysameexistentialneedsofsocietythatis,thateachprofessioniscalledin somewaytoaddressoneormoreoftheneedsofhealth,order, meaning,orsecurity.Associetybecamemorecomplexand theworldofworkbecamemorediversified,theoccupations thatwereentrustedtomeetthoseessentialneedsexpandedas theneedsbecamemorecomplexanddiversified.Inmedieval

Richard F. Ponton, Department of Human Services, Township of Ocean, Oakhurst, New Jersey; Jill D. Duba, Department of Counseling and Student Affairs, Western Kentucky University. Both authors are members of the American Counseling Associations Professional Standards Committee. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Richard F. Ponton, Department of Human Services, Township of Ocean, PO Box 910, Oakhurst, NJ 07755 (e-mail: rponton@oceanhsd.org). 2009 by the American Counseling Association. All rights reserved.

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Ponton & Duba times,peoplesneedforhealthwasmetbyphysicians.Currently,thecomplexityofhealthcareisrevealedbythe356 associationsofprofessionalslistedinadirectoryofmedical academiesandhealthcareprofessionalassociations(Pohly, n.d.).Anotherexampleofexpansionofoccupationstomeet ever-increasingcomplexityofneedmightbeintheareaof security.Similartohow18th-centurysocietyprotecteditself withsoldiersfromthosewhowouldkill,rob,andrape,today, societyprotectsitselfwithpoliceofficers,securityspecialists, andevencomputerscientists.Fromaccountantstozoologists, societycallsonprofessionalstopromisetoactpro bono publicobecauseitneedstobeabletotrustthemtohelpitmeet itsexistentialneeds.Welie(2004)definedaprofessionas
acollectiveofexpertserviceproviderswhohavejointlyand publiclycommittedtoalwaysgiveprioritytotheexistential needsandinterestsofthepublictheyserveabovetheirown andwhointurnaretrustedbythepublictodoso.(p.531)

Welie(2004)madeacogentargumentregardingthenature ofthispublicpromiseformodernprofessions,suggestingthat thepromisecreatesasocialcontractbetweensocietyandboththe collectiveprofessionandtheindividualprofessional.Thus,professionsandtheirmembersareobligedtoactinthepublicgood ratherthanintheirownbestinterest.Thechoiceofprofessional altruismhasbeenmadebytheprofessionthroughoutitshistory andbyeachindividualpractitioneronenteringtheprofession. Hence,Welieassertedthatunlikecharity,professionalaltruismisnotanoptionbutanobligationthatbindseachandevery member,individuallyandcollectively(p.530).

Counseling as a Profession
Counselingasadistinctdisciplineisapproachingits100th year in the United States. Reminiscent of the television advertisement that asked Is it soup yet? we counselors collectively wonder, Are we a profession yet? Bradley (1978)addressedthatquestioninthe1970s,Aubrey(1983) addresseditinthe1980s,andVanHesterenandIvey(1990) andHannaandBemak(1997)addresseditagaininthe1990s. In the current decade, the same question continues to be raised(Myers,Sweeney,&White,2002;Pistole&Roberts, 2002).In1997,HannaandBemakassertedthatcounseling hasaccomplishedall,ornearlyall,oftherequisitesforstatus as a profession. Counselors have a national professional association,viabledivisions,andanarrayofstateassociations(p.194).GaleandAustin(2003)suggestedasimilar notionregardingthedevelopmentofprofessionalidentity: Counselinghasattainedmanycriteriaidentifiedasessential toaprofession:aprofessionalorganization,anethicalcode andstandardsofpractice,anaccreditingbodytoprescribe curriculumandtosanctionpreparationprograms,credential, andlicensinggoverningpractice(p.3).Nonetheless,the identitycrisisofthecounselingprofessioncontinues.We suggestthatthequestionofprofessionalidentitycannotbe adequatelyaddressedintheabsenceofthenotionofvoca118

tion.Thatis,forcounselorstocollectivelyandindividually answerthequestion,WhoamIasacounselor?counselors mustfirstask,Whoarewecalledtobebythesocietythat has created the profession? More succinctly, what is the existentialneedofsocietythathascalledtheprofessionof counselingintobeing? The history of the counseling profession illumines the natureofitsvocation.VaccandLoesch(1994)pointedout thatthehistoryofthecounselingprofessiontracesitsbeginningstoapproximatelytheturnofthetwentiethcentury... wheneducationalprofessionalsbegantorealizethatyoung peopleinsocietyneededhelpinmakingeffectivevocational decisions(p.30).Indeed,FrankParsonsiscreditedwiththe establishmentofthefirstcounseloreducationandcertificationprogram(Schmidt,2003).Hewasnotonlyinterestedin vocationalguidance;hewasasocialreformerwhohadwritten about womens suffrage, taxation, and universal education (Zunker,2002).ParsonswasareformeroftheProgressive Era(Zytowski,2001),andhiscontributionstosocietyand the profession of counseling that grew from the seeds he plantedinBostonwerearesponsetotheneedsofsocietyfor personalmeaningandsocialorderthesameneedsthatcall uscounselorsasaprofessiontoday.Parsonsscontributionto vocationalcounselingsuggestedthatforsocietytofunction well,individualsneedsandstrengthsmustbeconsideredand thatthematchbetweenanindividualandanoccupationisa matterofbothsocialneedandpersonalchoice.Fromtheearly decadesofthe20thcentury,withthedisciplinesemphasison vocationalguidance,tothemiddledecadeswiththeshiftin emphasistowardindividualneedsandmentalhealth(Bradley, 1978),andintothepresent(Gale&Austin,2003),theprofessionhascontinuedtocarryoutthethemefirstarticulated byParsons.ThethemeislateroutlinedbyVanHesterenand Ivey(1990),namely,thatthecounselingprofessionisfirst and foremost concerned with positive human change . . . [and]isfocusedonbothindividualsandsystemswithinwhich we all live (p. 524). Furthermore, counseling specialties shareacommoninterestinfacilitatinghumanandsystemic growth,theinteractionofpeopleandsystemsgrowingina mutualdialogueordialecticandareconstantlyawarethat developmentalchangeoccurswithinaculturalcontext(Van Hesteren&Ivey,1990,p.524). ThethreadofcommonmissionsoughtbyHeppner,Rogers, andLee(1984)isfoundinarealizationthat,inallspecialties of counseling, the vocation that the counseling profession receives from society grows from the ever more complex existentialneedformeaningandorderinmoderncultures. Inwhateverspecialtycounselorspractice,theyareaskedto provideexpertisetotheproblemofbalancinganindividuals needs,strengths,andidentitywiththegrouporsocietywithin whichthatindividualfunctions.AsSteenbarger(1991)stated, Counselingsidentityisinextricablyboundwiththosepreventativeanddevelopmentalactivitiesissuingfromorganismic (growth-oriented, holistic) and contextualistic (person/ environmentsensitive)perspectives(p.380).

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The ACA Code of Ethics: Articulating Counselings Professional Covenant

Professional Ethics and the Covenant

Emanatingfromtheexistentialneedsofsociety,professionsare establishedandmaintainedbythemutualinteractionofsociety andtheprofessions,bothcollectivelyandindividually.Therefore, professionalethicscanbeseenastheimplicitandexplicitunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweentheprofessionandsociety. Miller(1990)suggestedthatamodelofunderstandingtherelationshipofaprofessiontosocietyisthecovenant.Shesuggested thatacovenantmodeloftheprofessionalrelationshipwithsociety andconsequentobligationstosocietywasusefulinbroadeningthe narrowquidproquoagreementthatisinherentinacontractmodel ofprofessionalresponsibility.Engel(2004)stated,
Themakingofcovenantsisoneoftheoldestandmostenduringwaysinwhichhumanbeingshaveestablishedsocialrelationsfoundedonsharedvaluesandpurposes....Themaking, breaking,andremakingofcovenantshasdefinedmuchofthe courseofWesternhistory,anditislikelyithasplayedasimilar roleinthehistoriesofalltheworldspeoples.(p.32)

ACAs Ethics Code

Modernprofessionshaveadoptedthemodelofaspecifiedcodeof ethicstoensurecommonstandards,minimizeinterpersonalstrife (Baker,1999),andguideprofessionalsthroughthemostcommon pitfallsinpractice(Welfel,2002).Morespecifically,ACA(2005) proposedfivemainpurposesforitscodeofethics:(a)toclarifythe natureofethicalresponsibilities,(b)tosupportthemissionofthe organization,(c)toestablishprinciplesthatinformbestpractice, (d)toassistmembersinconstructingacourseofaction,and(e)to serveasthebasisforprocessingethicalcomplaintsandinquiries. TheACA Code of Ethics(ACA,2005)reflectsthecounseling professionsunderstandingoftheresponsibilitiesinherentinthe covenantalrelationshipwithsociety.ChangesintheACAethics codereflecttheprofessionsunderstandingofchangesintherole oftheprofessionalorchangesinthesocietycounselorsserve. InthePreamble,ACA(2005)affirmstheprofessionsdedicationtosocietyandthemissiontowhichcounselorsarecalled: ACA members are dedicated to the enhancement of human developmentthroughoutthelifespan.Associationmembersrecognizediversityandembraceacross-culturalapproachinsupport oftheworth,dignity,potential,anduniquenessofpeople(p.3). Respondingtothesocietalneedfortoleranceandequality,the ACA Code of Ethics(ACA,2005)clearlyindicatesthatan importantcomponent...isanemphasisonmulticulturaland diversityandissuesfacingcounselingprofessionals(Glosoff &Kocet,2006,p.6). TheIntroductiontoeachoftheeightsectionsoftheACA Code of Ethics (ACA,2005)articulatestheunderstandingsharedby professionalcounselorsoftheircovenantalrelationshipandthe specificmannerinwhichtheyfulfillthemeaningandorderneeds ofsocietyatthistimeinhistory.SectionAofthe2005Codesuggeststhatcounselorsaddressthosesocietalneedsinprofessional relationshipswithclientsthatfosterclientgrowthandrecognize contextualisticvariablesthataffecttheclient.Modificationsofthe sectionreflectachangingintheunderstandingoftheboundaries betweenclientsandcounselors(Kocet,2006).Reflectingasignificantchangeinculturalmores,anotherchangeinthissectionis theadditionofethicsconcerningassistingclientswithend-of-life issues(StandardA.9.).Thecounselingrelationshipchangesasa functionofthetechnologythatsupportsit.The2005revisionof theACAethicscode clarifiesissuesofthecovenantofcounseling thatarerelatedtocomputertechnologyandtheInternet. SectionBoftheACA Code of Ethics (ACA,2005) articulatesthesharedbeliefthatcounselorsrecognizethattrust isacornerstone(p.7)oftheircovenantalrelationshipwith societyandthattheyaffirmtheirresponsibilitytopromote thattrustthroughtheirrespectforeachclientspersonhood, culture,andstory.Whethertheissueisrelatedtoconfidentiality and boundaries with minors or sharing information withinsurancecompanies,orevensharinginformationafter a clients death, the guiding principles of the covenant are clearthroughoutthesection,andthemodificationspointto strengtheningthoseprinciplesofrespectforandcollaboration withtheclientasthecovenantalcornerstone. 119

Theessentialingredientsofacovenantareinformedagreementand voluntaryconsentbyequalsasagiftorentrustment.Engel(2004) explainedthatcovenantsarebytheirnatureamoralpractice(p. 34),allowing,asconsistentwiththecovenantrelationship,some behaviorsanddisallowingotherbehaviorsasinconsistent.The covenantpromiseismadebyprofessionalstosocietybothindividuallyandcollectively.Likeallcovenants(e.g.,marriage),that professionalpromisebothgrowsfromandshapestheidentityof thosewholivethecovenantalrelationship.Miller(1990)pointed outthatinthecovenantmodel,theindividualinassumingprofessionalidentity...promisestoreturnthegiftheorshehasreceived inbeingtrainedforandgrantedprofessionalstatus(p.121). Thiskindofcovenantalrelationshipwasthefoundationofoaths promisedthroughouthistoryandwithintheclassicalprofessions. Anoathhaslongbeenestablishedaspartofthespecialnatureof aprofession.Forexample,themodernuseoftheHippocraticoath forphysicianscanbetracedtotheRenaissanceesteemfortheancientGreeksandthemoralpreceptsofHippocrates(Baker,1999). Throughoutmostofhistory,however,theprofessionaloath,anethic ofcharacter,wasageneralpromisetoacttothebestofonesability withfidelityandhonorforthebenefitofthepubliconeserved.In 1794,ThomasPercivalofManchester,England,publishedthefirst codeofethicsforphysiciansandinalaterversion(1803)coined thetermprofessional ethics.Percivalsinnovationgrewbothfrom hisowndissatisfactionwiththeunethicalbehaviorofhiscolleagues andfromthesocialcontextofthelate18thandearly19thcenturies inwhichpeoplewerelesstrustfuloftheethicsofcharacter.His codespecifiedwhatmembersofthemedicalprofessionagreed werethebehaviorsassociatedwithfidelity,honor,andthebenefit ofpatients.Thecodewaswritteninthesecondandthirdperson, ratherthanthemoresubjectivefirstperson,reflectingtheshiftfrom interiorcharactertoexteriorexpectations.Hebothaffirmedthecore responsibilityandassertedthemoralauthorityandindependence ofthosepracticingmedicine(McCullough,2004).

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Ponton & Duba The counseling profession is called by society to apply somespecializedknowledgeandskilltowardtheaccomplishmentofthegoalssetforthinthePreamble.TheIntroduction toSectionCoutlinesthatresponsibility.Counselorsarecalled toengageincounselingpracticesthatarebasedonrigorous researchmethodologies(ACA,2005,p.9)andtoprovide services within the framework of their profession and the limitationsoftheircompetence.The2005revisionoftheACA ethicscodedemonstratestheincreasingsocietalexpectation andprofessionalcommitmenttoefficacyinitscallfortheuse ofempiricallysupportedtechniquesandtheidentificationof thosethatarenot(StandardC.6.e.). SectionDoftheACA Code of Ethics(ACA,2005)shifts thefocusfromtheprofessionsunderstandingofitsrelationship with clients to the relationship of counselors to colleaguesandconstituents(Kocet,2006p.232).Clearly,this sectiondemonstratesanunderstandingwithinthecounseling profession that counselors are one of a number of helping professionalsworkingtogetherinvariousemploymentsettings (Kocet,2006).Consequently,counselorsareresponsiblefor themaintenanceofpositiveandeffectiverelationshipswith colleagues,employers,andemployeesbecausethoserelationshipsareinthebestinterestoftheclientsandsocietyserved bytheprofession. From the very beginning of professional counseling, counselingprofessionalshaveappliedtheuseoftestingand assessmenttotheassistanceofindividualsandsociety.Section Eoutlinesthecovenantbetweensocietyandthecounseling profession regarding assessment.The changes in theACA (2005) ethical code highlight the growing realization that respectingclientsrightsintheassessmentprocessareparamount,aswellasattendingtothegrowingsocietaldependence onassessmentresultsinlitigation. Aprofessionnotonlyprovidesspecificservicestocontemporarysocietybutalsoensurestheadequatetrainingofprofessionalsforthefuture.ACAsunderstandingoftheimplications fortrainingnewprofessionalsisarticulatedintheIntroductionto SectionFoftheACA Code of Ethics(ACA,2005).Counselors assist others entering the profession by serving as counselor educatorsorsupervisors.Inthoseroles,counselorsmodelthe valuestheyareteachingastheyinteractwithstudents,namely, justice,equality,competence,andcaring.Furthermore,counselorsexpectthosewhoarepreparingtobecounselorstomaintain theprofessionalcovenantwiththeirclientsandsociety. Counselorsarecalledasaprofessionbysocietytorespond tocertainsocietalneedswithspecializedknowledgeofboth individualsandtheever-changingsocietalcontextinwhich theylive.SectionGoftheACA Code of Ethics (ACA,2005) outlines the counseling professions understanding of the needforcontinuingresearchtocontributetothatknowledge baseoftheprofession.ThechangesintheACA(2005)ethicscodehighlighttheprofessionspromisetosafeguardthe rightsandwell-beingofthoseparticipatinginresearchstudies aswellasitsexpectationofcompetentandhonestresearch fromcounselors. 120 Finally,counselorsrecognizeboththehumanfrailtyand subjectiveunderstandingthatleadtothebreakdownofacovenant.InSectionHoftheACA Code of Ethics (ACA,2005), members of the counseling profession acknowledge their responsibilitytocalloneanothertofidelitytothecovenant.

Conclusion
ItisnoteworthythatthesectionsoftheACA Code of Ethics(ACA,2005)developtheframeworkforthecounseling profession in a manner that reflects the professionalism of counseling.GardnerandSchulman(2005)stated,
Sixcommonplacesarecharacteristicofallprofessions,properly construed:acommitmenttoserviceintheinterestofclientsin particularandthewelfareofsocietyingeneral;abodyoftheory orspecialknowledge,...aspecializedsetofskills,practices,and performances,uniquetotheprofession;thedevelopedcapacityto renderjudgmentswithintegrityunderconditionsofbothtechnical andethicaluncertainty;anorganizedapproachtolearningfromexperience,bothindividuallyandcollectivelyandthusgrowingnew knowledgefromthecontextofpractice;andthedevelopmentofa professionalcommunityresponsiblefortheoversightandmonitoringofqualityinbothpracticeandprofessionaleducation.(p.14)

Percivalscontributiontomedicalethicswashisinnovation thatbeyondthearticulationofthecovenantofaprofession,the codemustprovideaframeworkwithinwhichthatcovenantis lived.The2005revisionoftheACAethicscodeprovidesin eachsectionclearparametersofbehaviorsthatareunderstood by the profession to be consistent or inconsistent with the covenant.Codesofethicsdonotcometoprofessionsonstone tabletsfromhighmountains;rather,theyarealwaysaworkin progress.Theyaredevelopedbycommittees,examinedbyprofessionalsandthepublictheyserve,andthenlivedoutbyfrail humansandadaptedtochangingcontexts.TheACA Code of Ethics(ACA,2005)reflectstheprofessionscontinuinggrowth inmulticulturalunderstandingandglobalawareness;agreater recognitionoftheclientasamemberofasocialnetworkthat extendsfarbeyondthecounselingroom;agreaterawareness andclarityofsharedexpectationsoftheroleofcounselorsas employer,employee,teacher,andsupervisor;andaclarification oftheprimacyoflawintheresolutionofethicaldilemmas. MoleskiandKiselica(2005)statedthatalthoughprofessional codesofconductprovideguidelinesforhowcounselorsshould behavewithclients,theydonotfurnishalltheanswers(p.3). Forthisreason,thePreambleoftheACA Code of Ethics(ACA, 2005) notes that professional counselors need to engage in a carefullyconsideredethicaldecision-makingprocess(p.3) andanevaluationofthecontextofthesituation.Inotherwords, the2005ACA Code of Ethicsprovidestheframeworkforethical thinking,nottheanswerstoeveryethicalquestion.Miller(1990) referredtothisasahabitofmind(p.123)thatisassociatedwith thecovenantrelationshipoftheprofessional.Thishabitofmind isreflectedinaseriesofarticlespublishedinCounseling Today

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The ACA Code of Ethics: Articulating Counselings Professional Covenant examiningthe2005ACA Code of Ethicsrevisionsanddiscussing theethicalissuesfacingcounselors(Kaplan,2006). TheACA Code of Ethics(ACA,2005)isagifttotheprofessionfromourcolleagueswhodevelopedthem.TheACA ethicalcodeisapromisethatcounselorsmakecollectively, asaprofession,tothepublictheyserve.Mostimportant,the ACAethicscodeisagiftthateachcounselorgives,freelyand faithfully,tothosetheyservebytheircovenantpromise. The ACA Code of Ethics (ACA, 2005) provides a marker inthedevelopmentofthecounselingprofession,aswellasan illustration of the covenant relationship between counseling professionalsandsociety.Thecounselingprofessioncontinues todevelopthroughitsattentiontotheneedsofsociety.Associety changes,theneedsofindividualswithinsocietywillcontinue tochange.Societalchangessuchasincreasingmultilingualism, greaterimpactofmanagedcareoruniversalhealthcare,further changes in technology, and changes in supervision trends or educational expectations are examples of the many that may affecttheprofession.Consequently,thecounselingprofession willalsocontinuetoalteritsservicesandinterventions.These shiftsinneed,services,andinterventionswillfurtheraffectthe veryrelationshipbetweensocietyandprofessionalcounselors andleadtofuturerevisionsoftheACAethicscode. Thiscovenantalrelationshipbetweenthecounselingprofession andsocietybehoovesprofessionalcounselorstoactethically,with fidelityandhonor,whileexercisingtheirtrainingandeducationto servesocietyandclientstotheirbenefit.The2005revisionofthe ACAethicscodesetsthepremiseforthisevolvingrelationship betweenthecounselingprofessionandsociety.Byadheringto theACA Code of Ethics(ACA,2005),professionalcounselors willbehaveinwaysthatareinthebestinterestofclientsand thesocietyatlarge,willincorporatetrainingandeducationtothe utmoststandardofdeliveringservices,andwillbeguidedtoward professionalbehaviorwithinallcontextsofpractice.Finally,and perhapsmostimportant,theACAethicalcodeservestoprotect thiscovenantalrelationshipasitcontinuestoevolve.
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