Not a major purpose of codes of ethics?

• A. They spell out legal aspects of practice.
• B. They guide professional conduct.
• C. They help protect clients.
• D. They define professional boundaries.

Answer: (A)

Codes of ethics set clear expectations for professional behavior and provide a framework for how counselors should conduct themselves. They guide decisions about how to interact with clients, obtain informed consent, maintain confidentiality, and manage boundaries. The main aims are to shape professional conduct, protect clients, and define appropriate boundaries, helping counselors act consistently with ethical values and the profession’s standards.

They are not primarily legal documents. Legal requirements come from laws, statutes, and licensing rules, which establish enforceable duties. Codes of ethics may reference legal considerations and can be used in disciplinary processes, but their focus is normative guidance for ethical practice rather than detailing legal obligations.