Ethics
We act with your best interest at heart
The CALM Center adopted this version of its Ethics Code during the April 8, 2019 session.
The current Code became effective on May 1, 2019.
Code of Conduct
This section consists of General Principles. General Principles, as opposed to Ethical Standards, are aspirational in nature. Their intent is to guide and inspire mental health counselors toward the very highest ethical ideals of the profession. General Principles, in contrast to Ethical Standards, do not represent obligations and should not form the basis for imposing sanctions. Relying upon General Principles for either of these reasons distorts both their meaning and purpose.
Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
Mental health counselors strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm. In their professional actions, mental health counselors seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those with whom they interact professionally and other affected persons, and the welfare of animal subjects of research. When conflicts occur among mental health counselors' obligations or concerns, they attempt to resolve these conflicts in a responsible fashion that avoids or minimizes harm. Because mental health counselors' scientific and professional judgments and actions may affect the lives of others, they are alert to and guard against personal, financial, social, organizational, or political factors that might lead to misuse of their influence. Mental health counselors strive to be aware of the possible effect of their own physical and mental health on their ability to help those with whom they work.
Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility
Mental health counselors establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work. They are aware of their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and to the specific communities in which they work. Mental health counselors uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their professional roles and obligations, accept appropriate responsibility for their behavior, and seek to manage conflicts of interest that could lead to exploitation or harm. Mental health counselors consult with, refer to, or cooperate with other professionals and institutions to the extent needed to serve the best interests of those with whom they work. They are concerned about the ethical compliance of their colleagues' scientific and professional conduct. Mental health counselors strive to contribute a portion of their professional time for little or no compensation or personal advantage.
Principle C: Integrity
Mental health counselors seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of mental health counseling. In these activities mental health counselors do not steal, cheat or engage in fraud, subterfuge, or intentional misrepresentation of fact. Mental health counselors strive to keep their promises and to avoid unwise or unclear commitments. In situations in which deception may be ethically justifiable to maximize benefits and minimize harm, mental health counselors have a serious obligation to consider the need for, the possible consequences of, and their responsibility to correct any resulting mistrust or other harmful effects that arise from the use of such techniques.
Principle D: Justice
Mental health counselors recognize that fairness and justice entitle all persons to access to and benefit from the contributions of mental health counseling and to equal quality in the processes, procedures, and services being conducted by mental health counselors. Mental health counselors exercise reasonable judgment and take precautions to ensure that their potential biases, the boundaries of their competence, and the limitations of their expertise do not lead to or condone unjust practices.
Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity
Mental health counselors respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination. Mental health counselors are aware that special safeguards may be necessary to protect the rights and welfare of persons or communities whose vulnerabilities impair autonomous decision making. Mental health counselors are aware of and respect cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status, and consider these factors when working with members of such groups. Mental health counselors try to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on those factors, and they do not knowingly participate in or condone activities of others based upon such prejudices.