Professionalism is having the discipline to be aware of and work to a set of values made up of

legal statutes, of professional body frameworks and guidelines and of employer policies,
frameworks and guidelines, which together detail expected conduct. Those statutes, policies,
frameworks and guidelines should be used to identify roles and responsibilities which in turn
define boundaries. From the point of view of counseling, professionalism can be defined as the
process of setting adequate ethical and specialized boundaries in order to exercise intentionality
and self-awareness.

The core values of professionalism in counseling include integrity, competence, respect for
autonomy, and ethical decision-making (Sue et al., 2019). Any given counselor should possess
professionalism in order to be able to remain competent and focused on performance. The
unwavering commitment to client safety and welfare is at the core of professionalism in
counselling. Upholding confidentiality builds trust in the counselling relationship, as clients
share deeply personal information expecting discretion and respect (Sue et al., 2019).
Professionalism promotes informed consent and client autonomy which empowers clients in
their therapeutic journey, allowing them to make well-informed decisions about their treatment.

Professionalism entails that the counsellor stick to ethical guidelines. The ethical guidelines also
address potential conflicts of interest and dual relationships, ensuring that nothing compromises
the professional relationship or biases the counsellor's judgement Maylea (2019). Additionally,
the framework puts emphasis on safeguarding vulnerable populations and maintaining cultural
sensitivity. This ensures that all clients receive empathetic, respectful, and inclusive support
regardless of their background or personal circumstances (Blake, 2018).

In conclusion counselling is a profession that requires a high level of trust, integrity, and
discretion. As counsellors navigate sensitive personal matters, their actions can significantly
impact the lives of their clients. Hence, following a defined ethical framework is not just crucial
it's an absolute necessity. Clients should have the opportunity to put their trust in the counselor
in order to set the expectations together and see how both the therapist and the client could act in
line with the code of ethics. Thus, professional values are the pillars that support client growth
while delineating the counseling practice and establishing relevant boundaries that should not be
crossed if healthy relationships are to be formed and maintained.
References

Blake, P. (2018). Child and adolescent psychotherapy. Routledge.

Maylea, C. (2019). Social work and the law: A guide for ethical practice. Red Globe
Press.

McAuliffe, D. (2021). Interprofessional ethics. Cambridge University Press.

Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2019). Counseling the culturally
diverse: Theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons.