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To operate ethically as a professional counselor, and especially as a counselor with Christian ethics, we must consider these six ethical principles (Kitchener, 1984) as we work with all of our clients, regardless of religious beliefs. These six principles are the foundation for ethical behavior as counselors. They also reflect Christian values and will be discussed in further detail in Chapter 6. These fundamental principles are:
autonomy, or fostering the right to control the direction of oneβs life;
nonmaleficence, or avoiding actions that cause harm;
beneficence, or working for the good of the individual and society by promoting mental health and well-being;
justice, or treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and equality;
fidelity, or honoring commitments and keeping promises, including fulfilling oneβs responsibilities of trust in professional relationships; and
veracity, or dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come into professional contact. (ACA, 2014, p.3)
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Robyn Simmons, Stacey Lilley, and Anita Kuhnley (Introduction to Counseling: Integration of Faith, Professional Identity, and Clinical Practice)