Professionals and Practitioners in

Counseling; Rights,
Responsibilities, Accountabilities,
and Code of Ethics; Ethical and
Unethical Behaviors among
Counselors
GROUP 1
 PREAMBLE

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
CHAPTER I: PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY

CHAPTER II:
COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP

contents
CHAPTER III: CONSULTING AND
PRIVATE PRACTICE
CHAPTER IV: RELATIONSHIPS
WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS
CHAPTER V: EVALUATION,
ASSESSMENT, AND
INTERPRETATION
CHAPTER VI: COUNSELOR
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND
SUPERVISION
CHAPTER VII: RESEARCH AND
PUBLICATION
 preamble
The Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association, Inc. (PGCA) is an
organization helping professionals whose members are committed to the
development of the well-functioning individual in a society utilizing his/her
potential to the fullest.

Members of the Association are required to uphold the dignity and worth
of the person during the course of their life in the following circumstances:
educational, community, clinical, hospital, or industry.

The ethical principles are articulated in this Code of Ethics in Guidance

and Counseling. All of the Association's members are expected to follow its
guiding principles and ideals in both their professional and personal lives.
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 Ethical principles
The expectations for ethical conduct as expressed in this Code are based on the
following fundamental principles:

• Respecting human rights and dignity

• Respect for the client’s right to be self-governing
• A commitment to promoting the client’s well being
• Fostering responsible caring
• Fair treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services
• Equal opportunity for clients availing counseling services
• Ensuring the integrity of the practitioner-client relationship
• Fostering the practitioner’s self-knowledge and care for self
• Enhancing the quality of professional knowledge and its application
• Responsibility to the society
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CHAPTER I:
PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY
CHAPTER I: PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
1. General Responsibility. Counselors maintain a high standard of professional
competence and ethical behavior thereby recognizing the need for continuing
education in order to meet this responsibility.
2. Respect for Rights. Counselors respect the rights of a client and uphold the
integrity of the counseling profession. They act to protect the dignity and rights of
their clients, students, and research participants and engage in only those practices
that respect the legal, civic, and moral rights of others.
3. Boundaries of Competence. Counselors are bound by the laws, rules, guidelines,
accreditation, and credentials to the extent that their professional knowledge,
educational background, and personal experience allow. A proper recommendation
must be made if a client's counseling demands exceed the counselor's knowledge
and skills.
4. Continuing Education. Counselors continuously update themselves with the
current trends and development in the profession to maintain a high degree of
proficiency through active participation in the scientific and professional endeavor
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CHAPTER I: PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

5. Research and Development. Counselors engage in research activities for the

advancement of the counseling profession. They are in charge of conveying this
information through presentations and publications.
6. Ethical Behavior. Counselors uphold the values and ethical principles operating
in this Code. In their counseling sessions and when engaging with their fellow
employees, they are expected to act professionally.
7. Sensitivity to Diversity. Counselors recognize and respect clients’ diversity in
terms of religion, race, culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, education,
and socio-economic status.
8. Equal Opportunity. Counselors provide equal opportunity to everyone to avail
of counseling services in various settings regardless of age, gender,
socioeconomic status, civil status, religion, culture, ethnicity, disability, and
sexual orientation.

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CHAPTER I: PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
9. Good Quality of Practice. Counselors maintain a good quality of
practice in the helping profession at all times. They continuously
assess their performance as professionals and, where necessary, take
action to improve.
10. Knowledge of Legislative Laws. Counselors have a responsibility to
read, understand, and follow Republic Act 9258 (Guidance and
Counseling Act of 2004) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
11. Extension of Ethical Responsibilities. Counseling services and
products provided by counselors through classroom instruction, public
lectures, demonstrations, publications, radio and television programs,
computer technology, and other media must meet the appropriate
ethical standards of this Code of Ethics

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CHAPTER II:
COUNSELING
RELATIONSHIP
 CHAPTER II: COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP
1. General Responsibility. Counselors have a responsibility to respect the integrity of their clients and
care for their welfare. It’s collaborative work with clients in creating counseling relationships that are
consistent with their abilities and needs.
2. Confidentiality. The counselor must preserve and secure the confidentiality of the clients except: 2.1
When disclosure is required to avoid clear and imminent danger to the client; 2.2 When legal
requirements demand that confidential matter be revealed.
3. Children and Persons with Diminished Capacity. When counseling children or those with limited
ability, counselors go through the informed consent procedure with those who are legally qualified to
give consent.
4. Maintenance of Records. Counselors maintain records in sufficient detail to track the sequence and
nature of professional services rendered and consistent with any legal, regulatory, agency, or
institutional requirement. They secure the safety of such records and, create, maintain, transfer, and
dispose of them in a manner compliant with the requirements of confidentiality and other articles of this
Code of Ethics.

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 CHAPTER II: COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP
5. Access to Records. Counselors understand that clients have the right to access their
counseling records. Only with the client's informed consent and/or if there are imminent
changes to the client's life are such disclosures to others allowed.
6. Dual Relationships. Counselors avoid personal, familial, social and/or business
relationships except those already existing prior to the establishment of the counseling
relationships.
7. Understanding Diversity. Counselors do not support or participate in discrimination based
on age, color, culture, ethnicity, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, marital
status, or socioeconomic status. Instead, they actively work to understand the diversity of
their clients.
8. Relationships with Former Clients. Counselors exercise caution when forming any
relationships with former clients, including those that are friendly, social, financial, and
business-related, until the problems with the relational dynamic that was present during
counseling have been fully addressed and the relationship has properly ended.

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9. Multiple Clients. When two or more people in a relationship (such as a husband and wife or
parents and children) ask a counselor to conduct counseling, the counselor makes it clear up front
who the client(s) are and what kind of connection they will have with everyone.
10. Multiple Helpers. If they are already in a counseling relationship when they first begin working
together, the counselor is responsible for initiating a talk with the client regarding whether or not to
continue counseling. It could be crucial to discuss these issues with the other helper with their
consent depending on whether the client wants to end the counseling relationship. If not, the
counselor can decide not to accept the client.
11. Group Work. During and after the group experience, counselors have a duty to protect group
members from physical and/or psychological harm brought on by interactions inside the group.
12. Termination of Counseling. Counselors must terminate the counseling relationships when it is
deemed necessary. It should be done when; 12.1. Goals of counseling have been met. 12.2. Client’s
condition is beyond the counselor’s expertise. 12.3. Transference or counter-transference issues are
evident.
13. Computer Use. Counselors must make sure the things while using computer applications as a part
of counseling services, such as in testing or assessment: (a) client is capable of using the computer
application; (b) the computer application is appropriate to the needs of the client; and (c) the client
understands the purpose and operation of computer application.
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CHAPTER III:
CONSULTING AND
PRIVATE PRACTICE
 CHAPTER III: CONSULTING AND PRIVATE PRACTICE
1. General Responsibility. Counselors only offer consultation services in those areas where they
have proven their ability through education and experience.
2. Undiminished Responsibility and Liability. Counselors who work in private practice,
whether incorporated or not, must make sure that there is no reduction in their personal
professional obligation to follow the PGCA Code of Ethics, or in their responsibility for any
failure to do so.
3. Consultative Relationships. Counselors make sure that all parties are aware of the goals and
that consultation takes place within a voluntary relationship between a counselor and a client,
group, or organization.
4. Informed Consent. Counselors who give services to third parties acknowledge and make it
clear to clients the requirements of such consulting agreements, including the goal, entitlement
to information, and any confidentiality limits, in order to get the client’s informed consent.
5. Accurate Advertising. Counselors must correctly and clearly describe their services, areas of
competence, and qualifications, such as license and accreditation, to the public when they
advertise their services as private practitioners. This information must not be incorrect,
misleading, deceptive, or dishonest.
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 CHAPTER III: CONSULTING AND PRIVATE PRACTICE

6. Respect for Privacy. Counselors only let those who are obviously involved in the case communicate client
information they have learned through a consultation relationship. Any written or verbal reports must only
serve the consultation's purposes, and every effort is taken to ensure client confidentiality and minimize
privacy invasions.
7. Cooperating Agencies. Before sharing information, counselors make efforts to ensure that these other
agencies have defined policies that serve the client’s interest.
8. Conflict of Interest. Counselors who engage in consultation steer clear of situations where a conflict of
interest can arise due to a dual relationship or previous experiences.
9. Professional Fees. Professional fees are determined according to guidelines outlined in current in-
effect laws, ordinances, promulgations, and resolutions. When deciding prices for expert counseling
services, counselors take their clients' financial situation and areas into consideration.
10. Pro Bono Service. Counselors render professional services in the community or society for which there is
little or no financial return (pro bono).

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CHAPTER IV:
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
OTHER PROFESSIONALS
 CHAPTER IV: RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS
1. General Responsibility. Counselors maintain harmonious working relationships with other
professionals in their work settings and affiliated organizations.
2. Roles and Functions. Counselors set the parameters and levels of their professional roles and
functions.
3. Working Agreement. With regard to counseling relationships, respect for professional standards,
house rules, workload, timeframe, responsibility, and accountability, counselors develop working
agreements with superiors, coworkers, and subordinates.
4. Evaluation. Counselors submit regularly to professional review and evaluation by their employers
and peer. This can be done semi-quarterly or annually as agreed by the counselor and the
employer.
5. In-Service. Counselors participate in in-service training for professional growth and development.
6. Damage Control. Counselors alert their employers to conditions that may be potentially
disruptive or damaging to the counselor’s professional responsibilities or that may limit their
effectiveness.
7. Supervisory Relationships. Counselors in supervisory position foster good working relationships
and treat all colleagues fairly.

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 CHAPTER IV: RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS
8. Consulting with other Professionals. Counselors are permitted to discuss clients with
other qualified professionals. If the client’s identity must be disclosed, it will only be done
with their written permission. Counselors pick qualified consultants in a way that keeps
them out of situations where they might have a conflict of interest.
9. Client Advocate. Counselors strive to reach an agreement with employers as to acceptable
standards of conduct that allow for changes in institutional policy conducive to the growth
and development of clients.
10. Coordination. In respect to the counseling services and programs provided at their
workplace, counselors maintain good cooperation with other professionals.
11. Networking and Linkages. To advance the profession and promote public and social
awareness, counselors create a strong network and connections with other sectors.
12. Referral Fee. Counselors avoid receiving referral fees from other professionals.
13. Professional Conduct. Counselors are expected to maintain the highest standards of
ethical behavior for the benefit of their clients as well as the institution in which they
provide services.
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CHAPTER V:
EVALUATION,
ASSESSMENT, AND
INTERPRETATION
 CHAPTER V: EVALUATION, ASSESSMENT, AND
INTERPRETATION
1. General Responsibility. Counselors take responsibility to inform the clients about
the purpose of any evaluation and assessment instruments and procedures and the
meaning of assessment results.
2. Test Selection and Evaluation. Counselors have the competence to evaluate tests
in terms of the (a) appropriateness of the test to the purpose of testing; (b) reliability
and validity; (c) appropriateness of the level of difficulty to clients; and (d)
appropriateness of norms of norm-referenced tests
3. Test Competence. Counselors who utilize psychological tests and other assessment
instruments must have received training in their usage, be familiar with the training
needs of various tests, and understand the concepts of reliability and validity.
4. Purpose and Results of Assessment. Counselors take responsibility for informing
clients about the goal of assessment, the procedures involved, and the meaning of
evaluation and assessment results.

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 CHAPTER V: EVALUATION, ASSESSMENT, AND
INTERPRETATION
5. Test Administration. Counselors administer psychological tests in accordance
with standards or guidelines of testing procedures found in the Test Manual.
6. Administrative and Supervisory Conditions. Counselors make sure that
evaluation and assessment tools and processes are used, overseen, and administered
under defined conditions in accordance with professional norms.
7. Test Data Utilization. Counselors use assessment data by taking into account a
variety of factors and personal traits that are gathered from the integrated profile of
battery test results and could distort their judgment or lower the quality of the data.
8. Test Confidentiality. Counselors have the responsibility to observe the principle of
confidentiality in testing.
9. Computer-Generated Tests. Counselors ensure that computer-generated test
administration and scoring programs function properly in order to give clients
accurate test results.

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 CHAPTER V: EVALUATION, ASSESSMENT, AND
INTERPRETATION

10.Obsolete Data. Counselors do not use data or test findings that are no
longer relevant for the purpose at issue to influence their assessments,
recommendations, or decisions.
11.Intellectual Property. Counselors safeguard and respect the publisher’s
intellectual property rights of psychological tests. Reproduction and/or
modification of parts without acknowledgment and permission from the
publisher of psychological tests are punishable by the Law.
12.Maintaining Test Security. Counselors make reasonable efforts to
maintain the integrity and security of tests and other assessment
techniques.

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CHAPTER VI:
COUNSELOR EDUCATION,
TRAINING, AND
SUPERVISION
 CHAPTER VI: COUNSELOR EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND
SUPERVISION
1. General Responsibility. The counselors who are in charge of counseling education,
training, and supervision follow the most recent rules and regulations in this area and act
in accordance with the Code and Standards of Practice.
2. Counselor Educators and Trainers. Counselor educators and trainers possess the
necessary qualifications, skills, and competencies to conduct counselor education and
training programs.
3. Description of Education and Training Programs. Counselors responsible for
education and training programs ensure accurate descriptions of the course/training,
goals and objectives, content outline, requirements, methodology, and references.
4. Program Orientation. Counselors in teaching, training, and supervision programs take
responsibility to orient prospective students, trainees, and supervisees to all core
elements of such programs and activities.
5. Counselor Supervision. Counselors inform the supervisees about the process of
supervision, expectations, outcomes, monitoring, and evaluation in order to provide
competent counseling services.
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 CHAPTER VI: COUNSELOR EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND
SUPERVISION
6. Ethical Orientation. Counselors have an obligation to make their students,
trainees, and supervisees aware of their ethical responsibilities.
7. Evaluation. Counselor educators and trainers ensure a fair, accurate, and honest
appraisal of students, supervisees, and trainees.
8. Relational Boundaries. Counselors establish relationships with their students,
trainees, and supervisees such that appropriate relational boundaries are clarified
and maintained, and dual relationships are avoided.
9. Contribution to Research. Counselors give credit to students and supervisees for
their contributions to research and scholarly projects in the field of guidance and
counseling.
10. Counselor Care. The counselor organization provides continuing activities for
counselor care.
11. Counselor Rights. Rehabilitation services should be available for counselors under
stress.
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CHAPTER VII:
RESEARCH AND
PUBLICATION
 CHAPTER VII: RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION
1. General Responsibility. In planning any research activity dealing with human subjects,
the counselor must observe ethical principles and standards of good practice.
2. Informed Consent. Except where withholding information or giving people false
information is necessary for the inquiry, all research subjects must be informed of the
study's purpose. In such research, the counselor must be responsible for corrective action
as possible following the completion of the research. 2.1. Voluntary Participation.
Participation of identified subjects in research must be on a voluntary basis.
3. Welfare of the Subjects. Counselors are in charge of the subjects' welfare during the
research, and they are required to take all reasonable steps to prevent harm to their
subjects' physical, psychological, or social well-being.
4. Joint Research Activity. Counselors who collaborate on research or publications with
another person are obligated to work together to complete the joint venture to their
mutual satisfaction.
5. Joint Authorship. Counselors participating in group research acknowledge that the first
author must receive all correspondence related to the research in question.
 CHAPTER VII: RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION
6. Confidentiality of Information. Counselors must take due care to disguise the identity of
respective subjects and research locale.
7. Reporting Accurate Results. Counselors conduct, report and make thorough discussions of
research with accuracy and avoid bias and misleading results.
8. Professional Values. Counselors communicate to others the results of any research judged to
be of professional value. Results that reflect unfavorably on institutions, programs, or
services must not be withheld.
9. Acknowledgment. Counselors give due credit through acknowledgment, footnote
statements, or other appropriate means to those who have contributed significantly to the
research and/or publication in accordance with such contributions.
10. Replication. Counselors acknowledge the fact that their research can be replicated by others
at one point in time due to its relevance and theory testing
11. Publication. Counselors use the set standards for writing style when submitting their
research work for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
12. Review of Materials Submitted. Counselors who review materials for publications must
respect the confidentiality and propriety rights of those persons who submitted
 THANK YOU
AND GOD BLESS!