Ethics are the moral principles that govern behavior. Most professional organizations, including Biblical, Christian, and secular counseling organizations operate under a code of ethics. These ethical guidelines govern the behavior of its professional members. Some common principles within ethical codes are human worth and dignity, beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, fidelity, and justice.

Code of Ethics from common counseling organizations

American Association of Christian Counselors https://www.aacc.net/code-of-ethics-2/

Association of Certified Biblical Counselors https://biblicalcounseling.com/certification/standards-of-conduct/

American Psychological Association https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index

American Counseling Code of Ethics https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy https://www.aamft.org/Legal_Ethics/Code_of_Ethics.aspx?WebsiteKey=8e8c9bd6-0b71-4cd1-a5ab-013b5f855b01

Required Readings

• Christian Ethics https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/christian-ethics/
• Ethical Decision Making: Basic Issues http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.825.545&rep=rep1&type=pdf
• Ethics And Legal Issues In Online Counseling Services: Counseling Principles Analysis https://ojs.unm.ac.id/JPPK/article/view/3657

Optional

• Christian Ethics by Norman L. Geisler
• Principles of Conduct: Aspects of Biblical Ethics by John Murray
• Law for the Christian Counselor Paperback by George W. Ohlschlager