American Counseling Association (ACA) - (2005) Section A.10.e., states: Counselors understand the challenges of accepting gifts from clients and recognize that in some cultures, small gifts are a token of respect and showing gratitude. When determining whether or not to accept a gift from clients, counselors take into account the therapeutic relationship, the monetary value of the gift, a client's motivation for giving the gift, and the counselor's motivation for wanting or declining the gift. Dr. Zur's note: The 2005 revision of the ACA Code of Ethics represents thoughtful and appropriate guidelines in regard to accepting gifts from clients. It acknowledges the importance of culture and other context related factors. American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) Codes of Ethics - (2010) Section 2. Fee Arrangements, Bartering, and Gifts  Mental health counselors are cognizant of cultural norms in relation to fee arrangements, bartering, and gifts. Mental health counselors clearly explain to clients, early in the counseling relationship, all financial arrangements related to counseling.  d) When accepting gifts, mental health counselors take into consideration the therapeutic relationship, motivation of giving, the counselor’s motivation for receiving or declining, cultural norms, and the value of the gift.  Dr. Zur's note: Unlike the 2000 code the 2010 AMHCA code include the above, rather reasonable, mention of "gifts' in therapy. National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) - (2004) Section Principle 7, Dual Relationships, states: I shall not accept substantial gifts from clients, other treatment organizations, or the providers of materials or services used in my practice. Dr. Zur's note: It is important to remember that gifts by themselves, in most situations, do not constitute dual relationships. It is not clear why the reference to gifts is placed under the title of Dual Relationships. As was noted above we must also be aware whether the gifts are of substantial value or not is not always the most important aspect of the gift from a clinical or ethical point of view. The following professional associations' Codes Of Ethics DO NOT mention "gifts" in their texts: American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) - (1994) American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work (ABE) - (2006) American Psychiatric Association (ApA) - (2010) American Psychological Association (APA) - (2002) Association of State And Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) - (2005) California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) - (2008) Canadian Counseling Association (CCA) - (2007) Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) - (2000) Center for Clinical Social Work (CCSW) Feminist Therapy Institute (FTI) - (1999) National Association of Social Workers (NASW) - (1999) National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) - (2005) Northamerican Association of Masters in Psychology (NAMP) - (2000) The United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP) - 2007

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