ABSTRACT
The stature of the counseling profession has improved dramatically in recent years. This has been due to, among other things, implementation of credentialing processes, expansion of counseling service realms, increased counseling effectiveness, and more focused conceptualizations of who counselors are and what they do. However, these gains have not been, and further gains will not be, achieved without difficulties. As counselors’ professional identity advances, they and their activities are subject to increased scrutiny by their clients, the general public, and other audiences. Thus, there are more reasons than ever for professional counselors to be mindful of the implications of their behaviors, and to be attuned to pertinent ethical and legal considerations. Remley (1988) wrote:
Ethical and legal considerations are important to us [i.e., counselors], but not because we need help in protecting ourselves from suits filed by the clients we serve. Instead, adherence to ethical and legal standards are vital if we are to take our place as full partners in the practice of mental health counseling. (p. 167)
