Ethical Codes and Diversity in Psychology

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Ethical principles for psychologist have advanced a great distance to achieve codes of conduct to avoid bias and culturally encapsulated assumptions. Common assumptions can be made and are harmful to clients, which means; what is good thing for one individual, may not be good for another individual. It is paramount for counselors and students in the professional helping professions to learn and recognize their own cultural biases that will benefit the client that may be part of diverse populations and backgrounds. Assumptions about other cultures are common in today's society and the therapeutic environment which necessitate the APA standards. This paper will address some of the culturally encapsulated biases and evidence as provided by the American Psychological Association (APA).

A culturally encapsulated counselor by definition is when reality or cultural assumptions fail to evaluate their own viewpoints, and ignore potential evidence that challenge their own assumptions (Corey, Corey, & Callahan, 2011). Counselors are charged with the notion to be aware of biases, values, and assumptions while increasing awareness of other cultural groups as well as their own self-awareness. The goal is to develop culturally appropriate intervention techniques that can address diverse clientele. The APA code of ethics provides a clear standard for all psychologists to be obligated to provide ethical and competent services to work with people of diverse backgrounds. Providing clinical services is only within competence boundaries in which services fall into client populations. These boundaries are only standards or minimums such as education, training, experience, consultation, and supervision to ensure professional services of diverse backgrounds (Benish, Quintana, & Wampold, 2011).

A clinician or counselor needs to be fully aware of the diverse background with regard to the ...