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• This Learning Activity Sheets hopes to involve the learners to be assisted in their learning activities at their own pace and time. This also aims to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills. It will explore further the world of counseling professionals and practitioners.
• In this Learning Activity Sheet learners will further explore the field of counseling. This time you will learn about the code of ethics that upholds the rights of counselors and promotes accountabilities in the practice of their profession and performance of their responsibilities.
• Rights and Responsibilities, and Accountabilities of Counselors


  As state registered licensed professionals, counselors are protected. They are governed by scientific theories, practices and processes as well as professional standards and ethics. They are responsible for the practice of their profession in accordance with their mandate and professional guidelines and ethics. They are accountable to their clients, the professional body and the government.
• It is critical that the counselor and the client fully understand the nature of the concerns, which leads to a contract to take action on a mutually agreed upon problem.
• Republic Act No. 9258 is an Act professionalizing the practice of guidance and counseling and creating for this purpose a Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes.
• Guidance and Counseling


  A profession that involves the use of an integrated approach to the development of a well-functioning individual primarily by helping him/her to utilize his/her potentials to the fullest and plan his/her future in accordance with his/her abilities, interests and needs. It includes functions such as counseling, psychological testing, research, placement, group process, teaching and practicing of guidance and counseling subjects, and other human development services.
• Guidance Counselor


  A natural person who has been registered and issued a valid Certificate of Registration and a valid Professional Identification Card by the Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in accordance with this Act and by virtue of specialized training performs for a fee, salary or other forms of compensation, the functions of guidance and counseling.
• No person shall engage in the practice of guidance and counseling without a valid Certificate of Registration and a valid Professional Identification Card or a special permit.
• No corporation, partnership, association or entity shall operate a guidance and counseling office or center, or otherwise engage in the practice of guidance and counseling without securing a permit from the Board.
• Any unethical practice of guidance and counseling as may be defined in a Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards to be prepared by the Board in consultation with guidance counselors, is prohibited.
• A certified guidance counselor who is allowed to practice guidance and counseling in accordance with this Act cannot, without the consent of the client, be examined as to any communication or information which has been acquired while attending to such client.
• No foreign guidance counselor shall be admitted to the examination, or be given a Certificate of Registration, or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges under this Act unless the country or state of which he/she is a subject or citizen permits Filipino guidance counselors to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of said country or state.
• Code of Ethics of Counselors


  To protect the clients` interests, the Institute of Guidance Counselors, established in 1968, produced a Code of Ethics for its members` compliance. The Code makes explicit the values underlying their practice.
• Ethical Principles of the Code of Ethics

  • Respect for the rights and dignity of the client
  • Competence
  • Responsibility
  • Integrity
• The Fundamental principles of the Code of Ethics include respecting human rights and dignity, respect for the client's right to be self-governing, a commitment to promoting the client's well being, fostering responsible caring, fair treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services, equal opportunity to clients availing counseling services, ensuring the integrity of practitioner-client relationship, fostering the practitioner's self-knowledge and care for self, enhancing the quality of professional knowledge and its application, and responsibility to the society.