Question

Describe the reason behind the difference between the language in APA’s and ACA’s ethics codes regarding Conflicts between ethics and law. Briefly describe the difference and reasons why

Answer 1

Most psychologists or therapist are supervised directly by supervisors and students. This makes it possible to provide an innovative clinical service that offers therapeutic improvement to an individual and supports his or her growth and development. It is critical to be familiar with the ethics codes of the ethics organizations that endorse the type of training and supervision that psychologists or therapists receive in terms of treatment methods.
An easy way to distinguish between the ACA and the APA is to note that the ACA demands that a direct supervisor be present for every counseling session and to deliver counseling and psychotherapy on a curriculum of techniques and styles. The specific range of these techniques and styles are controlled by each individual clinical organization.
The APA requires the evaluation of each therapist to ensure that:
1.Individuals are receiving adequate psychotherapy and providing satisfactory responses to therapeutic challenges and challenges to therapeutic interventions;
2.Each individual has an equal opportunity to participate in the therapy;
3.Each individual receives a comprehensive mental health assessment by an appropriate authority (e.g., a psychologist or a psychiatrist). This assessment should include information on social, psychological, personality, social role, and coping problems; and 4.Individuals have been trained and supervised by an appropriately qualified therapist. With respect to the mental health assessment, the specific form of assessment used and the level of response rate typically vary depending on the health care specialty involved. Under certain circumstances, a comprehensive assessment may also be used in consultation with a psychiatric doctor. In practice, however, this range of assessment varies from organization to organization. On the other hand, every segment of ACA ethics code starts with an introduction. The introduction to each segment explains the ethical behavior and duty of counselors. The introduction helps to set the tone for each section and provides a starting point for focusing on the ethical standards found in each part of the ACA ethics code. The guidelines define professional duties and offer instructions for those ethical responsibilities. When counselors face hard-to-resolve ethical problems, they are required to participate in carefully considered ethical decision-making process reviewing available resources as appropriate. Results from the study showed ACA to provide extensive therapeutic-related requirements and prohibitions compared to APA's more general and principled approach to this domain. Citing a few examples here, ACA requires more extensive documentation of relationship boundary changes related to romantic and/or sexual relationships and other definitions of relationships. In addition, both ACA and APA limit potential for multiple relationships, but ACA specifically prohibits counselors from terminating a therapeutic relationship  in order to pursue a romantic relationship with someone close to their client. ACA is more specific, prescriptive and restrictive in what appears to be attempts to provide improved client protection. Similarly, the ACA is more detailed and narrow about client / counselor relationships and other therapeutic boundaries. The protections are also extended to the counseling supervisor in the ACA code. In contrast, the APA is more general and/or silent in the domains that ACA discusses. Throughout the years, the codes of ethics of professional associations of psychotherapists have grown to suit the growing understanding and professional knowledge of dual relationships and other related issues.