The Code of Ethics: Articulating Counseling's Professional Covenant

Dr. Richard Ponton
Dr. Jill D. Duba, Western Kentucky University

Abstract

A code of ethics articulates the covenant that exists between a profession and the society it serves. The purpose of this article is to review the nature of that covenant for counselors from the perspective of their professional identity and in the light of the 2005 revision of the ACA Code of Ethics. The 2005 Code of Ethics provides an illustration of the ever changing relationship between counseling professionals and society and it addresses this evolving relationship by providing clear parameters of behaviors to meet the changing and needs of society and clients.