2014 Standard B. 2 Discussion Paper

Coming into the master’s level counseling program, I was bewildered by the complexities of the various professional associations and the separation of the code of ethics of varying associations and laws created for counselors. Likewise, I needed to familiarize myself with the discordance between the state regulatory laws and statutes in counseling. It is significant to be familiarized with ethical standards and understand the law's differentiation with an emphasis on personal morals and values. It is indispensable to gain knowledge of professional codes by considering Texas law and how the implementation could affect my future professional counseling career.
The American Counseling Association is one the primary professional organizations

For example, when it comes to the implications and the scope of when to break confidentiality, it displays different guidelines when dealing with exceptions to confidentiality. American Counseling Association (2014 Standard B.2.a) addresses serious and foreseeable harm and legal requirements; the general guidelines illustrate that confidentiality does not apply when disclosure is required to protect clients or identified others from serious and foreseeable harm or when legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed. Counselors consult with other professionals when in doubt as to the validity of an exception. Additional considerations apply when addressing end-of-life issues. On the other hand, similar to the Texas administrative code, conveys licensee may take reasonable action to inform medical or law enforcement personnel if the licensee determines that imminent physical injury is probable by the client to the client or others or there is a probability of immediate mental or emotional injury to the client. (22 Tex. Admin. Code § 681.41(o), 2023, p. 89) Among the consolidated rules for licensed professional counselors, there is much ambiguity in the organization of rules and statutes, and the legal jargon that is hard to grasp compared to the American Counseling Association. For example, when it comes to the implications

It also encourages the counselor to seek out other professionals to determine the validity of harm. Also important are the ethical and legal guidelines when counseling friends and family. The American Counseling Association (2014 standard A.5.d.) conveys that counselors are prohibited from engaging in counseling relationships with friends or family members with whom they cannot remain objective. To evaluate another scope of ethical and legal implications of crossing boundaries in a therapeutic stance, the American Counseling Association (2014 standard A.5.d) allows the counselor to determine and monitor their relationships and to reframe from offering therapeutic services when unable to remain objective leaves room for the counselor to make their judgment. Texas administrative code directly addresses that the licensee must not provide counseling services to previous or current family members, personal friends, educational associates, or business associates. (22, Tex. Admin. code § 681.41(m)(5), 2023, p. 89). Alternatively, the Texas administrative code clearly states that a licensee is strictly prohibited from creating therapeutic relationships with previous or current family members, personal friends, educational associates, or business associates. On another note regarding professional counseling