What is a fundamental requirement for counselors in terms of their professional conduct?

Counselors are fundamentally required to adhere to ethical standards, as these standards serve as the cornerstone of professional conduct in the field. Ethical guidelines ensure that counselors provide services that respect their clients' dignity, rights, and confidentiality. Adhering to these standards promotes trust in the counselor-client relationship and ensures that the interventions used are appropriate and in the best interest of the client.

Ethical standards also guide counselors in making difficult decisions that may arise in practice, such as issues of confidentiality, informed consent, and dealing with dual relationships. By following these ethical guidelines, counselors not only protect the welfare of their clients but also uphold the integrity of the counseling profession as a whole.

While client satisfaction is important, it should not overshadow the ethical obligations that counselors have to protect and promote their clients' welfare. Supervision is a vital aspect of professional growth for counselors, contradicting the idea that they should avoid it altogether. Strict discipline codes may be part of the framework but are primarily a means of enforcing ethical standards rather than a standalone requirement in professional conduct.