A code of ethics for any organization is a vital guiding document that(if followed conscientiously(reveals the ethical framework and convictions of the organization that has produced it. In the case of the codes of ethics of the American Counseling Association, or ACA, and the American Association of Christian Counselors, or AACC, there are both similarities and differences that bear discussion. Both codes address competence, colleague relationships, and sexual relationships with counselees, for example, and each has a different slant and emphasis on those three issues.
Competence is obviously one of the most important issues in counseling, as incompetence can lead to a worsening of the patient's condition, or even, in extreme cases, to suicide. Effective counseling requires not only a sensitivity to the patient's feelings, situation, and state of mind, but also a clinical understanding of medical or other conditions that must be weighed in determining the appropriate course of treatment. These are complex and interdependent factors. The ACA Code of Ethics addresses the "boundaries of competence" only briefly and states that counselors "practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate professional experience" (2005, p. 9). The limitation to practice only within the boundaries of one's experience is so generalized as to be meaningless, however. What are the boundaries of competence for a particular individual, and how can these be assessed and measured in a meaningful way? As a code for use in everyday practice, the ACA Code falls far short of what it should be. The Code of Ethics, on the other hand, goes into substantially more detail on this subject, providing specific instructions on what the counselor is to do and what steps to follow in situations where their level of competence...