Code of Ethics of Guidance Counselors
CODE OF ETHICS
OF
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS
PREAMBLE
Guidance counsellors work with clients, as individuals and in groups, to whom they supply professional services concerning educational, vocational and personal/social development. Guidance counsellors respect the dignity, integrity and welfare of their clients, work in ways which promote clients’ control over their own lives, and respect clients’ ability to make decisions and engage in personal change in the light of clients’ own beliefs and values. To protect clients’ interests, members of the Institute are required to comply with this Code of Ethics, which makes explicit the values underlying their practice.
The work of the guidance counsellor involves a special relationship of trust. That trust is promoted by setting and monitoring appropriate boundaries in the relationship, and making this action explicit to the client and relevant others. While the relationship with the client is the primary concern, it does not exist in a social vacuum. For this reason, guidance counsellors have sensible regard for the social context of their work, which includes the wider community, the law and professional colleagues.
Alleged breaches of the Code are referred to the Institute’s Professional Conduct Committee, which will investigate, and if appropriate recommend sanctions. While the Code is designed to regulate the professional activities of guidance counsellors, it is not intended to monitor their activity in other contexts, or embrace wider social concerns. Personal behaviour becomes a concern of the Institute only if it casts doubt on practitioners' ability to conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner, or if it undermines public trust in the profession. Similarly, non-members of the Institute are not bound by the Code or the Institute’s disciplinary procedures; however, like all other citizens, members and non-members alike must take account of the law, and their conduct is ultimately
OF
THE INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS
PREAMBLE
Guidance counsellors work with clients, as individuals and in groups, to whom they supply professional services concerning educational, vocational and personal/social development. Guidance counsellors respect the dignity, integrity and welfare of their clients, work in ways which promote clients’ control over their own lives, and respect clients’ ability to make decisions and engage in personal change in the light of clients’ own beliefs and values. To protect clients’ interests, members of the Institute are required to comply with this Code of Ethics, which makes explicit the values underlying their practice.
The work of the guidance counsellor involves a special relationship of trust. That trust is promoted by setting and monitoring appropriate boundaries in the relationship, and making this action explicit to the client and relevant others. While the relationship with the client is the primary concern, it does not exist in a social vacuum. For this reason, guidance counsellors have sensible regard for the social context of their work, which includes the wider community, the law and professional colleagues.
Alleged breaches of the Code are referred to the Institute’s Professional Conduct Committee, which will investigate, and if appropriate recommend sanctions. While the Code is designed to regulate the professional activities of guidance counsellors, it is not intended to monitor their activity in other contexts, or embrace wider social concerns. Personal behaviour becomes a concern of the Institute only if it casts doubt on practitioners' ability to conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner, or if it undermines public trust in the profession. Similarly, non-members of the Institute are not bound by the Code or the Institute’s disciplinary procedures; however, like all other citizens, members and non-members alike must take account of the law, and their conduct is ultimately