Confidentiality

• Counselors must maintain the confidentiality of the client.young family image by JulianMay.co.uk from Fotolia.com
  
  Jeffrey Barnett, Psy.D and Ofer Zur, Ph.D., explain 'confidentiality' for family therapists. "Marriage and family therapists have unique confidentiality concerns because the client in a therapeutic relationship may be more than one person."
  
  

Professional Code

• Family counselors must honor their professional practice codes.Freude image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.com
  
  Counselors have practice standards based on an ethical code. The American Counseling Association says, "Through a chosen ethical decision making process and evaluation of the context of the situation, counselors are empowered to make decisions that help expand the capacity of people to grow and develop."
  
  

Values

• The values of the counselor must be separate from their clients.Businessman sitting in a chair talking image by sumos from Fotolia.com
  
  Personal values of counselors can differ from the values of their clients. The ACA recommends, "Counselors explore their own cultural identities and how these affect their values and beliefs about the counseling process."
  
  

Legal

• Counselors must understand the balance between their ethical, legal, and professional standards.young lawyer image by Alexey Stiop from Fotolia.com
  
  When counselors know there is abuse in a family, they face legal and ethical mandates. The counselor faces the ethical dilemma of breaching confidentiality vs. protecting the safety and well being of the client or other family members. The law mandates reporting in these instances.
  
  

Considerations

• Balancing client needs and personal and professional ethics is a formidable task for counselors.family image by pdesign from Fotolia.com
  
  Counselors who work with families must balance the complexity of meeting family treatment goals and individual needs, without compromising confidentiality or safety. This is done while maintaining personal values, professional, legal, and ethical standards of practice. This process requires expertise and counselor introspection.