ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, 7th Edition – Barbara Herlihy & Gerald Corey

The Challenge It Addresses

Every counselor, therapist, and mental health professional faces ethical dilemmas that can compromise client trust, licensure, and career integrity. Without a clear, authoritative guide to the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics, practitioners risk making decisions that violate standards, invite legal action, or harm vulnerable clients. The ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Seventh Edition, directly addresses this challenge by translating abstract ethical principles into actionable, real-world guidance.

ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, 7th Edition – Barbara Herlihy & Gerald Corey at a Glance

The ACA Ethical Standards Casebook is the definitive companion to the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics. Written by leading ethics scholars Barbara Herlihy and Gerald Corey, this seventh edition (published in 2015 by the American Counseling Association) provides a comprehensive resource for understanding and applying every standard in the 2014 Code. The book pairs each ethical mandate with detailed case studies, discussion questions, and decision-making models that bridge theory and practice.

Unlike generic ethics textbooks, this casebook is purpose-built for counselors across all settings — school, clinical, community, private practice, and academia. It covers core areas such as confidentiality, informed consent, boundaries, multicultural competence, supervision, and technology ethics, making it an indispensable reference for both novice and seasoned professionals.

Who Is This Book For?

This casebook is essential for anyone who needs to master ethical decision-making in counseling. It is particularly valuable for:

• Graduate students in counseling, psychology, and social work programs who must pass ethics exams and develop professional judgment
• Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) seeking to maintain ethical competence and meet continuing education requirements
• Counselor educators and supervisors who teach ethics courses or supervise clinical trainees
• School counselors navigating complex issues like minor consent, confidentiality, and mandatory reporting
• Clinical mental health counselors working with diverse populations in agency, hospital, or private practice settings

If your work involves client welfare, ethical risk management, or professional gatekeeping, this book is a non-negotiable resource.

What You Will Learn

By studying the ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Seventh Edition, you will gain concrete skills in:

1. Applying the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics to everyday counseling scenarios, with step-by-step case analysis
2. Identifying and resolving ethical dilemmas involving dual relationships, boundary crossings, and conflicts of interest
3. Protecting client confidentiality while complying with legal duties such as Tarasoff warnings and child abuse reporting
4. Implementing informed consent procedures that respect client autonomy and meet professional standards
5. Navigating ethical issues in technology, including teletherapy, social media, and electronic record keeping
6. Developing cultural competence in ethical decision-making, addressing bias, and serving marginalized communities
7. Building a personal ethical framework grounded in the ACA Code, state laws, and best practice guidelines

How It Compares

While other ethics resources offer generic principles or outdated codes, the ACA Ethical Standards Casebook provides unmatched depth and specificity. Its case-study approach mirrors the actual decision-making challenges counselors face daily. Unlike the Ethics in Counseling & Psychotherapy by Elizabeth Welfel, which takes a broader theoretical stance, this casebook stays laser-focused on the ACA Code, making it the go-to reference for ACA members and programs that adopt the ACA Code as their standard.

Competing texts often lack the 2014 updates, leaving readers with guidance that does not reflect current technology or telehealth standards. This seventh edition is fully aligned with the most recent ACA Code, ensuring you are not relying on outdated or superseded ethical guidance. Furthermore, the Herlihy and Corey author team brings decades of ethics teaching, scholarship, and service on ACA ethics committees — a level of authority no single-authored alternative can match.

Author & Publisher Credentials

Barbara Herlihy, PhD, LPC, LMFT, is a professor emerita at the University of New Orleans and a past chair of the ACA Ethics Committee. She has co-authored multiple editions of this casebook and numerous articles on ethical practice, making her one of the most cited scholars in counseling ethics. Gerald Corey, EdD, ABPP, LMFT, is a distinguished professor emeritus at California State University, Fullerton, and a licensed psychologist and marriage and family therapist. He has authored over 15 textbooks in counseling and ethics, including the widely used Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy.

The American Counseling Association (ACA) is the world’s largest association representing professional counselors, with more than 55,000 members. Publishing under the ACA imprint signals that this casebook meets the highest standards of accuracy, relevance, and professional endorsement. It is the only casebook officially aligned with the ACA Code of Ethics.

Our Verdict

For counselors-in-training and licensed professionals alike, the ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Seventh Edition, is not just worth the investment — it is a career necessity. Ethical missteps can result in licensure revocation, lawsuits, and harm to clients. Spending time with this casebook builds the reflective capacity and practical knowledge to avoid those outcomes. The case studies are realistic and varied, covering everything from school counseling confidentiality to end-of-life decisions. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter make it ideal for both self-study and classroom use.

The only limitation is that the 2015 edition does not include the most recent 2024 ACA Code updates. However, for those who need to master the 2014 Code — still widely taught and referenced in many state licensing boards — this edition remains highly relevant. It is also significantly more affordable than newer editions, offering exceptional value for students and budget-conscious professionals.

Download ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, 7th Edition – Barbara Herlihy & Gerald Corey Now

Whether you are a counseling student preparing for the NCE or CPCE exam, a licensed professional completing ethics CEUs, or a supervisor shaping the next generation of clinicians, the ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Seventh Edition, gives you the tools to practice with confidence and integrity. Published by the American Counseling Association and authored by the field’s leading ethics experts, this is the casebook that belongs on every counselor’s desk. Order your copy today and ensure your ethical foundation is as strong as your clinical skills.