Which factor does NOT affect a counselor's values?

The values of clients do not directly affect a counselor's personal values; rather, they inform how a counselor approaches individual cases and interacts with clients. Counselors must maintain their own ethical standards and values while being open to understanding and respecting their clients' perspectives. Engaging with a client's values and beliefs is crucial for effective counseling, but it does not mean that these external values change the counselor's foundational beliefs.

In contrast, a counselor's own experiences and upbringing shape their core values, influencing their perspectives and approaches to counseling. Similarly, the cultural diversity within society broadens a counselor’s understanding of various value systems, impacting their practice and ultimately their adaptive skills in a multicultural environment. Professional obligations also play a key role in establishing a counselor's ethical framework, as they are required to abide by certain guidelines and standards that are shaped by societal norms and expectations within the counseling profession. These obligations help counselors navigate their professional roles responsibly, but they do not necessarily alter the counselor's own values.