PCN 505 Week3 Controversial Issues final paper.docx -...

Running head: CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES1
Controversial Issues
Lindsey Dillon
Grand Canyon University

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES2
Introduction
The American Counseling Association (ACA, 2014) presents a mission that states, “It
was formed to help promote professional development of counselors, advocate for the counseling
profession and ensure ethical, culturally-inclusive practices which protect those utilizing
counseling services” (ACA, 2014, p.2). All members of the ACA know that diversity is a shared
encounter within the association and, therefore, holds cross-cultural practices to support the
firm’s mission (ACA, 2014). Professional Counselors should never impose their own values as it
is an ethical issue when counseling clients. Professional Counselors are to hold their own
personal values, personal beliefs and individual morals to themselves, especially when working
with a wide range of clients. Sharing this info can put you at liability of a multitude of problems
that include harm to the individuals you are working with (Corey, Corey, Corey & Callanan,
2015).
Ethics codes are a governed set of codes established by an association that were put in
place to lead professional guidance to ensure the best services possible are provided and for
protection of the public. Laws are different than ethics as they were created by the government
that are to be followed by legally. Laws are not all the same and differ from state to state. Every
person was raised with their own set of values depending on how you grew up and where you are
from. Per the ACA code of ethics (ACA, 2014), it states “Ethics pertains to the standards that
govern the conduct of its professional members; law is the body of rules that govern the a ff airs
of people within a community, state, or country” (ACA, 2014, p. 3).
Counselor Values and its Implications

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES3
Not only is it a rule of the ACA Code of ethics, but it is disrespectful for a counselor to
impose their own individual values and beliefs upon clients. As a professional counselor it is
their role to accept all clients for who they are and where they are at in their lives currently.