ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews ethical and legal issues for counselors. Ethical standards are professional standards developed by related organizations. Laws are established by federal and state governments as well as case law. The general guiding principles of ethics are outlined, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity. The American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics is summarized with examples for each section. Examples of topics include confidentiality, boundaries, competency, supervision, and impairment. This chapter reports ways to respond to ethical dilemmas using a systematic format. In addition, a selection of case law examples are discussed. Legal and ethical issues related to licensure and certification are also explained.
