Ethics and Professional Standards in Mental Health Counseling

This section of NYMHCA's website is designed to help you address the more common ethical and clinical practice standards issues that arise in practice and to provide education on ethics, professionalism and practice standards and their application in problematic practice situations.

Ethics and Practice Standards

This section will provide links to mental health counseling practice standards.

American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) Code of Ethics (2020) 

The "AMHCA Code of Ethics" focuses on the specific requirements for the ethical practice of clinical mental health counselors, and is divided into six sections:

1. Commitment to Clients
2. Commitment to Other Professionals
3. Commitment to Students, Supervisees, and Employee Relationships
4. Commitment to the Profession
5. Commitment to the Public
6. Resolution of Ethical Problems

The "AMHCA Code" is an essential component of practicing clinical mental health counseling with professionalism and integrity. 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.

AMHCA Standards for Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2021) 

"AMHCA Standards" is a living document that is updated on a continuing basis by AMHCA's Advancement for Clinical Practice Committee to meet the needs of the public and the profession. In addition to standards of practice, it includes training and supervision standards.

New in the 2021 edition:
The need is expanding for mental health professionals who have advanced, postgraduate training and experience in treating populations with special needs. AMHCA’s Advancement for Clinical Practice Committee (ACPC) has been at the forefront of identifying the knowledge and skills required for members of the clinical mental health counseling profession to become specialists.

The AMHCA board and the ACPC have included two new standards in the 2021 edition:

• Forensic Evaluation Standards and Competencies
• Gender Identity Counseling Standards and Competencies

Professional Standards of Care in Mental Health Practice (NYS Office of the Professions)

This Practice Alert is a general discussion of the practice issues a licensee may be faced with in those situations in which concerns about best treatment practice, including evidence based practice, vis-à-vis their professional practice are raised.

Telepractice (NYS Office of the Professions)

This Practice Alert is a general discussion of the practice issues a licensee may be faced with while providing telepractice services.

Practice Guidelines (NYS Office of the Professions)

The following is guidance provided by the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions.

1. Introduction
2. Purpose, Benefits and Limitations of Practice Guidelines
3. Defining the Terms for Providing Professional Services
4. Maintaining Confidentiality of Patient Information
5. Advertising and Specialty Credentials
6. Documenting the Provision of Services
7. Maintaining Appropriate Professional Boundaries
8. Delegation of Professional Practice to Authorized Persons
9. Consultation with Other Professionals
10. Maintaining Professional Competence
11. Engaging in Telepractice
12. Improving Practice Through Supervision
13. Consultation for Treatment of Serious Mental Illness

Continuing Education for Mental Health Counselors (NYS Office of the Professions)

Beginning January 1, 2017 each Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) must complete 36 hours of approved continuing education courses for each triennial registration period. No more than 12 hours of continuing education activities in any 36 month period, or one-third of the total hours in periods of other length, may consist of self-study educational activities from New York State Education Department approved providers.