Who is ultimately responsible for ethical decision-making in counseling?

The individual counselor is ultimately responsible for ethical decision-making in counseling because it is the counselor’s legal, professional, and ethical duty to provide appropriate care while respecting the rights and dignity of their clients. Each counselor is required to be familiar with the ethical guidelines established by professional organizations, relevant laws, and state regulations, but they are the ones applying this knowledge to real-life situations with their clients.

By being directly engaged in the therapeutic relationship, counselors make decisions that take into account the specific context of their client's needs, values, and experiences. This responsibility includes making judgments on confidentiality, informed consent, dual relationships, and various other ethical considerations that may arise in practice. While professional organizations offer frameworks and guidance for ethical practice, and licensing boards provide oversight and enforce standards, it is the individual counselor who must navigate these influences and ultimately make decisions that prioritize the well-being of their clients.