Boundary Issues and Ethical Codes: What’s the Same, What’s Different

Friday, January 15, 2027 ♦ 10:00am – 1:00pm (ET) Zoom Webinar

Presenter: Shawn L. Spurgeon, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACS

A foundational principle for professional counselor identity development is the ability to understand and engage in ethical reasoning, particularly as it pertains to boundary issues with clients. The ACA Code of Ethics have served as the foundation for operationalization of ethical principles since 1961. The current iteration of the Ethical Codes represents a shift in understanding the unique aspects of society and a transition to a more defined and focused method for disseminating ethical reasoning. The last revision of the Code occurred in 2014; as such, this most recent revision represents a departure from traditional knowledge and incorporates societal considerations not considered in previous versions, such as the effects of the COVID pandemic and the sociopolitical environment in which we reside. One of the important areas under consideration is boundary issues with clients. Professionals need to understand that, given the most recent shifts in society, we need to develop concrete ways for engaging in ethical decision-making related to this challenge.

Level of Curriculum Content: Intermediate

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Shawn L. Spurgeon, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACS is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services at St. Mary’s University, where he currently serves as Chair. He received his Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education in 2002 from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Spurgeon has served as a Counselor Educator for over 20 years. His research publications include articles on African American male development and Professor Counselor identity development, and he has completed over 100 presentations at national, regional, and state conferences. Dr. Spurgeon’s service to the profession includes the American Counseling Association’s 2014 Ethics Revision Task Force and the ACA Ethics Committee; additionally, he is a Past-President of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) and the Southern Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors (SACES). Currently, he serves as the President-Elect for the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES). Dr. Spurgeon previously worked as a mental health counselor at a family services agency, in a private practice, and at a community mental health center. He is currently licensed as a Professional Counselor in Tennessee (LPC-MHSP) and Texas (LPC-S)

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Review the highlights of the recently developed ACA Code of Ethics
• Understand the relationship between the ethical codes and the current social and political climate in which mental health professionals and clients exist
• Understand the relevance of boundary issues as they relate to our current social and political climate

PROGRAM AGENDA

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Introduction

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. 2027 Code of Ethics highlights: thematic differences; relevance for clinical practice; relevance for clinical training

10:45am – 11:15am Implications for mental health professionals: Social and political factors; legal factors

11:15am – 11:45am Understanding boundary issues with clients

11:45am – 12:15pm Suggestions/ideas for implementation of ethical codes

12:15pm – 1:00pm Questions and answers

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