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Full-Text Articles in Clinical Psychology
Relationships And Client Protection Differences In The Apa And Aca Ethical Codes, Michael W. Firmin, Kristin Dewitt, Lauren A. Kuhlwein, Taylor E. Hobbs, Aubrey Gillette
Relationships And Client Protection Differences In The Apa And Aca Ethical Codes, Michael W. Firmin, Kristin Dewitt, Lauren A. Kuhlwein, Taylor E. Hobbs, Aubrey Gillette
The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)
We present the results of a line-by-line comparison regarding relationship and client protection issues between the American Psychological Association (APA) and American Counseling Association (ACA) ethical codes. Out of 144 total differences in these ethical codes, 34 differences pertain specifically to the topics of relationships and client protection.
Results from the study showed ACA to provide extensive requirements and prohibitions relating to the therapeutic relationship, compared to APA’s more general and principle-driven approach to this domain. Citing a few examples here, we note that ACA requires more extensive documentation of relationship boundary changes pertaining to romantic and/or sexual relationships, therapeutic …