Abstract

This project examines the meaning of the term counseling ethics and explores its interaction and relationship with the discipline of ethics. The relation between theory and practice in counseling ethics is a primary area of focus in this investigation. Other topics include but are not limited to: the distinction between ethical and legal issues in counseling, codes of ethics, ethical decision-making in counseling, and ethics education in relation to counselor training. ;Quasi-qualitative methodology was utilized in conducting and analyzing interviews with seven respondents possessing expertise in ethical and/or legal issues in counseling and psychology. The following individuals participated in this project as respondents: L. DiAnne Borders, Gerald Corey, Harriet Glosoff, Barbara Herlihy, Karen Kitchener, Ted Remley, Jr., and, Holly Stadler. All respondents have written extensively on ethical and/or legal issues in counseling and have served in a variety of professional leadership positions in counseling or psychology. ;In addition to the seven case studies presenting the information that emerged during the course of the interviews and responses to follow-up questions, themes are discussed in relation to the counseling/psychology and ethics literature. The results of this project help clarify the current status of counseling ethics in relation to theory and practices