Codes of ethics primarily aim to protect and promote welfare of whom?

• A. Client only
• B. Counselor only
• C. Client, Counselor, Profession, Agency, and Client's Family Unit
• D. Insurance providers

Answer: (C)

Codes of ethics are designed to safeguard the well-being of everyone affected by counseling practice, not just the client. They set standards that protect clients’ rights, confidentiality, informed consent, and safety, while also providing guardrails for counselors to practice competently and with integrity. They help protect the profession’s reputation and ensure consistent, responsible behavior across settings, and they guide agencies in creating ethical policies and supporting ethical practice within organizations. Because therapy often involves family dynamics and wider social impacts, ethics codes also consider the client’s family unit when appropriate to promote overall welfare. That broader focus is why the best answer includes the client, the counselor, the profession, the agency, and the client’s family unit—the options focusing only on the client or only on the counselor, or prioritizing insurers, don’t capture the full scope of ethical protections.