Self-awareness is a vital aspect of my personal growth and authenticity. I have a clear understanding of my emotions, able to identify what I am feeling and the underlying reasons behind these feelings, including the specific triggers. This awareness helps me manage my responses thoughtfully. I also recognize my strengths and areas where I may need support or improvement, which guides my development. I am aware of how others perceive me and consider the impact of my words and actions on those around me. My core values and beliefs serve as a compass, shaping my decisions and behavior. I remain open to feedback, viewing it as an opportunity for growth and deeper understanding.
To show my honesty and being true to myself, I think carefully about my own feelings and beliefs. I try to reflect on how my values influence my relationships with others. I make sure that what I say and do matches my true feelings and thoughts. When I hear ideas or opinions that are different from my own, I try to put aside my personal biases and really listen to understand where others are coming from. I also work to manage any strong reactions I might have so I don't unintentionally hurt others. This helps me build respectful and genuine connections with people, based on being honest and true to myself, just as the Lotus flower remains pure and true to itself despite growing in muddy waters.
ACA Code of Ethics Standards:
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Counselors are committed to respecting clients' privacy and maintaining strict confidentiality, sharing information only with consent or as required by law. They also ensure that they provide services only within their professional competence, continuously seeking to maintain and improve their skills to serve clients effectively.
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B.1.a. Respect for Privacy and Confidentiality:
Counselors respect clients' rights to privacy and confidentiality. They protect the confidentiality of information shared during counseling, disclosing information only with the client's consent or when legally mandated.
C.2.a. Professional Competence:
Counselors provide services within the boundaries of their competence, which are based on their education, training, supervised experience, state or national credentialing, and appropriate professional experience.
CACREP Common Core Area Standard: 2.F.s.d, 2.F.1.k
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Counselors must adhere to legal and ethical standards in their practice, ensuring responsible conduct. They also have a duty to promote equity and inclusion, fostering a respectful environment for clients from diverse backgrounds.
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2.F.s.d: This standard typically addresses ethical and legal considerations in counseling practice, emphasizing the importance of understanding and applying relevant laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines to ensure responsible and lawful practice.
2.F.1.k: This standard often relates to the counselor's responsibility to promote equity, access, and inclusion within the counseling profession and in their work with clients, ensuring respectful and fair treatment for all individuals.
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References
American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
Brown, B. (2018). Daring greatly: How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead. Gotham Books.
Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs. (2016). 2016 CACREP standards. https://www.cacrep.org/for-programs/2016-cacrep-standards/