AMHCA Code of Ethics
Revised 2015, 2020
,AMHCA CODE OF ETHICS
Ethical Priorities
for Clinical Mental Health Counseling
, How is the AMHCA Code of Ethics distinctive
for the profession?
Created by the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), the AMHCA Code of Ethics
focuses on the specific requirements for the ethical practice of Clinical Mental Health Counselors (CMHCs).
All recognized professions have codes of ethics to guide the conduct of practice in order to ensure the safety
of those served.
As noted throughout “Essentials of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Profession,” the acronym
LCMHC is used to refer to all categories of clinical mental health counselors. These categories include
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Students (CMHC Students) in supervised internships, postgraduate
Supervised Clinical Mental Health Counselors (Supervised CMHCs), and fully Licensed Clinical Mental
Health Counselors (LCMHCs).
However, in the AMHCA Code of Ethics, the acronym CMHC is used in lieu of LCMHC. CMHC Students,
Supervised CMHCs, and LCMHCs all provide mental health counseling services, including the diagnosis and
treatment of mental disorders. The AMHCA Code of Ethics clarifies that these documents apply to all CMHC
Students, Supervised CMHCs, and LCMHCs. Regardless of graduate-degree program title or state license
title, AMHCA Code of Ethics provides ethical guidelines for each of the clinical mental health counselor
categories.
Continuously updated to meet the needs of changing circumstances, the AMHCA Code of Ethics addresses the
crucial concerns of CMHCs. The association’s Ethics Committee, a standing committee, reviews, revises, and
adds to the AMHCA Code of Ethics in keeping with current standards of practice and applicable ethical
standards. This committee serves as a conduit for ethical questions. In this never-ending process, the
committee members solicit feedback from CMHCs. They also refer to the codes of ethics in order to be in
harmony with the other mental health professions (psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy).
Nevertheless, AMHCA Code of Ethics reflects the unique needs of the clinical mental health counseling
profession.
With frequent updates, the Code of Ethics is often at the forefront of articulating developments in counseling
and psychotherapy. For example, technology advances in tele-health (distance counseling) prompted an
addition to the Code of Ethics to address the concerns of the public and the profession.
AMHCA Code of Ethics has been compared favorably in doctoral research to the codes of ethics of the other
mental health professions. It is the most singular discourse regarding ethics for CMHCs.
All members of AMHCA are required to comply with AMHCA Code of Ethics, which has been adopted by
some states as the standard of ethical practice for CMHCs. Whether or not a CMHC is bound by this Code of
Ethics, all CMHCs ethically should understand and act in accordance with it. AMHCA Code of Ethics is an
essential component of practicing clinical mental health counseling with professionalism and integrity. It is
required study for AMHCA qualifications and certifications.
In summation, AMHCA Code of Ethics offers guidelines for value-directed conduct. While ethical guidance for
the practice of clinical mental health counseling is its primary purpose, it is also intended to prompt
pondering about ethical thinking and practice. To be an ethical mental health counselor is to practice thinking
ethically in an ongoing self-deliberation and in discussions with other mental health professionals.
Using the most frequently asked ethics questions that mental health counselors have submitted, AMHCA’s
Ethics Committee has compiled the questions and the Committee’s answers into an online resource for
counselors. Anyone (whether or not a member of AMHCA) can submit a question for consideration. To
review the questions and answers, go to “Frequently Asked Questions on Ethics” at
www.amhca.org/publications/ethics/ethicsfaq.
Revised 2015, 2020
,AMHCA CODE OF ETHICS
Ethical Priorities
for Clinical Mental Health Counseling
, How is the AMHCA Code of Ethics distinctive
for the profession?
Created by the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), the AMHCA Code of Ethics
focuses on the specific requirements for the ethical practice of Clinical Mental Health Counselors (CMHCs).
All recognized professions have codes of ethics to guide the conduct of practice in order to ensure the safety
of those served.
As noted throughout “Essentials of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Profession,” the acronym
LCMHC is used to refer to all categories of clinical mental health counselors. These categories include
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Students (CMHC Students) in supervised internships, postgraduate
Supervised Clinical Mental Health Counselors (Supervised CMHCs), and fully Licensed Clinical Mental
Health Counselors (LCMHCs).
However, in the AMHCA Code of Ethics, the acronym CMHC is used in lieu of LCMHC. CMHC Students,
Supervised CMHCs, and LCMHCs all provide mental health counseling services, including the diagnosis and
treatment of mental disorders. The AMHCA Code of Ethics clarifies that these documents apply to all CMHC
Students, Supervised CMHCs, and LCMHCs. Regardless of graduate-degree program title or state license
title, AMHCA Code of Ethics provides ethical guidelines for each of the clinical mental health counselor
categories.
Continuously updated to meet the needs of changing circumstances, the AMHCA Code of Ethics addresses the
crucial concerns of CMHCs. The association’s Ethics Committee, a standing committee, reviews, revises, and
adds to the AMHCA Code of Ethics in keeping with current standards of practice and applicable ethical
standards. This committee serves as a conduit for ethical questions. In this never-ending process, the
committee members solicit feedback from CMHCs. They also refer to the codes of ethics in order to be in
harmony with the other mental health professions (psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy).
Nevertheless, AMHCA Code of Ethics reflects the unique needs of the clinical mental health counseling
profession.
With frequent updates, the Code of Ethics is often at the forefront of articulating developments in counseling
and psychotherapy. For example, technology advances in tele-health (distance counseling) prompted an
addition to the Code of Ethics to address the concerns of the public and the profession.
AMHCA Code of Ethics has been compared favorably in doctoral research to the codes of ethics of the other
mental health professions. It is the most singular discourse regarding ethics for CMHCs.
All members of AMHCA are required to comply with AMHCA Code of Ethics, which has been adopted by
some states as the standard of ethical practice for CMHCs. Whether or not a CMHC is bound by this Code of
Ethics, all CMHCs ethically should understand and act in accordance with it. AMHCA Code of Ethics is an
essential component of practicing clinical mental health counseling with professionalism and integrity. It is
required study for AMHCA qualifications and certifications.
In summation, AMHCA Code of Ethics offers guidelines for value-directed conduct. While ethical guidance for
the practice of clinical mental health counseling is its primary purpose, it is also intended to prompt
pondering about ethical thinking and practice. To be an ethical mental health counselor is to practice thinking
ethically in an ongoing self-deliberation and in discussions with other mental health professionals.
Using the most frequently asked ethics questions that mental health counselors have submitted, AMHCA’s
Ethics Committee has compiled the questions and the Committee’s answers into an online resource for
counselors. Anyone (whether or not a member of AMHCA) can submit a question for consideration. To
review the questions and answers, go to “Frequently Asked Questions on Ethics” at
www.amhca.org/publications/ethics/ethicsfaq.
