ABSTRACT
Counseling is a profession guided by ethics, laws, and professional standards. Professional counselors formed associations to provide support, increase visibility, and galvanize professional identity. In this process, ethical codes and standards were created for the fi eld. Codes and standards are living documents that change with the needs of the public and the individual client. Equally important, counselors are subject to local, state, and federal laws. New and novice counselors often experience a variety of emotions as they begin practice. They are often overwhelmed by excitement, worry, confusion, doubt, and pride. While excited about a fi rst counseling session and about being helpful to clients, there is much to learn about the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for making good professional decisions based on ethical standards and state and federal laws. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the basic ethical concepts and legal guidelines that infl uence one’s behavior as a counselor. In the end, it is up to counselors to integrate new knowledge and insights into their counseling practice. In the end, the individual counselor is responsible for ethical practice that ensures that clients are not harmed, but also benefi tted from counseling.
