Code of Ethics

for Counselor

Represented by: Geniellah Curato

 Introduction
In this lesson, we will shift our focus toward
clients and understand the specific ethical
standards that must be facilitated in order to
ensure a safe, helpful, and productive counseling
experience for them.
 Discover
In the Philippines, counselors are mandated by the Code or Manual of
Technical Standards for Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselors that
was developed by the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association, Inc.
(PGCA) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)

While the code of ethics that Filipino counselors follow is localized in the
country, the components of this code do not veer away from global standards
of what and how counseling practices should be.
code of ethics for counselors
a. counseling relationship
b. confidentiality, privileged communication, and privacy
c. professional responsibility
d. relationship with other professionals
e. evaluation, assessment, and interpretation
f. supervision, training, and teaching
g. research and publication
h. resolving ethical issues
The Counseling Relationship
-Contemporary research on counseling has shown that
successful counseling sessions are influenced by the
quality of the counseling relationship, which can be
understood as the professional relationship between the
counselor and the client.
 therapeutic
triad
-One prominent theory is that of Carl Rogers’ therapeutic triad
of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence.
therapeutic
triad

Figure 1, Carl Roger

 Confidentiality, Privileged Communication,
and Privacy
Confidentiality is a process that protects the client’s privacy through
appropriate safekeeping of records and through ensuring that such
information is only accessible to the client. Meanwhile, privacy
refers to the clients’ right to control information about themselves.
Privacy and confidentiality are pillars of privileged communication
that imply the client’s right to anonymity, but specifically under a
court of law.
 These exceptions include the
following:
• when the client is a minor who has been experiencing any form of abuse at
home, school, work, or in the community
• when clients’ current functioning poses harm to themselves or others
• when the client’s case is subjugated by any court of law, for any legal case that
requires this information to be released
• when clients request for their records to be released for personal purposes
 Professional Responsibility
-The counselor is first and foremost a professional who is tasked to aid clients in
resolving their issues. Counselors need to ensure that they are conscious of their
professional responsibilities before, during, and after any counseling session. The
counselor’s professional responsibilities range from establishing a good working
relationship with the client, providing regular feedback and assessment sessions, and
conducting debriefings and follow-ups when necessary.
 Relationship with Other
Professionals
-Similar to other professions, counseling professionals are
encouraged to widen their networks through participating in
training, seminars, and workshops. Actively partaking in these
events not only introduces a counselor to various linkages, but it
also provides counselors new skills and knowledge that they could
apply in practice.
 Evaluation, Assessment,
and Interpretation
-Evaluation, assessment, and interpretation can be viewed as the
most objective aspects of the counseling process. Counselors are
expected to provide accurate and reliable results to tests, including
those that only include behavioral observations and counselor
feedback.
 Supervision, Training, and
Teaching
-According to the code of ethics, counselors can engage in
counseling supervision, training, and teaching. However, it is
important to know that doing so would require professionals to meet
specific requirements and qualifications that go beyond getting a
PRC license as a guidance counselor.
 Research and Publication
-One of the professional responsibilities of counselors is to conduct research and
produce publications. While this is not required in practice, engaging in these
activities would allow counselors to increase their Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) points and facilitate knowledge-building in their field. In the
code of ethics, counselors are expected to engage in research and publication
initiatives that value participant safety, privacy, and beneficence. At the same
time, ethical standards of research practice would also require counselors to
report accurate results using reliable and appropriate methodologies.
 Resolving Ethical Issues
-Counselors may encounter issues that may be too difficult to resolve by
themselves. In these situations, specific and appropriate measures might be
mandated by the PGCA, alongside with experts in the field, on how to address
such issues. One way of doing so is to engage in objective consultation with other
counseling professionals and with the regulating institutions. Legal obligations
and standards falling beyond the realm of counseling must also be considered.
thankyou for
listening!!