Final answer:
Counselors should abide by ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, but they are not obligated to ensure that the morally correct action also makes them personally happy, as this aspect aligns more with ethical egoism rather than universal ethical standards in counseling.
Step-by-step explanation:
In making ethical decisions, counselors should abide by several principles, but there is one approach that they are not strictly obliged to follow - the principle that the morally correct action must always make the actor happy. This notion is most closely associated with ethical egoism, which suggests that moral behavior should align with one's own interests. However, in professional counseling, the focus is on more universally accepted ethical principles, such as autonomy, allowing clients to make informed choices; beneficence, acting in the best interest of clients; nonmaleficence, doing no harm; and justice, ensuring fairness and equality. These principles guide counselors in respecting clients' rights, maintaining honesty, confidentiality, and responsible care.
While some ethical frameworks suggest considering outcomes like happiness or self-interest, professionals must consider the broader implications of their actions. Sir William David Ross proposed the notion of prima facie duties, which are important moral commitments but not absolute, acknowledging that counselors often face competing ethical obligations in practice. Lastly, certain ethical approaches like care ethics emphasize the importance of values and personal relationships over adhering to rigid principles, which is an important consideration in the counseling context.