PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY: BOUNDARIES OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE IN ETHICAL CONTEXT

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the ethical and professional aspects of distinguishing psychological counseling from psychotherapy within the modern mental health care system. The relevance of the study is determined by the growing public demand for psychological assistance, the development of interdisciplinary cooperation, and the need to define clear boundaries of professional competence among specialists. It has been established that insufficient differentiation between the professional roles of counseling psychologists and psychotherapists may lead to overlapping competencies, violations of ethical standards, and a decline in the quality of psychological services. The study examines the characteristics of psychological counseling and psychotherapy, their common and distinctive features, the specifics of professional intervention, the level of specialist training, and the requirements for professional competence. It is determined that psychological counseling is primarily aimed at supporting individuals in crisis or difficult life situations, whereas psychotherapy focuses on deeper personality changes and work with complex psychological and psychopathological manifestations. Special attention is devoted to the ethical foundations of professional practice, particularly the principles of client autonomy, confidentiality, professional competence, responsibility, and interdisciplinary  cooperation. The importance of supervision, personal therapy, and continuous professional development as factors ensuring the quality of psychological assistance and preventing professional errors is substantiated. Ethical risks associated with dual relationships, professional asymmetry, and the potential misuse of psychological influence are also considered. It is concluded that the effective distinction between psychological counseling and psychotherapy is a necessary condition for professional responsibility, client safety, and the development of an evidencebased mental health care system. Prospects for further research are associated with improving the criteria of professional competence and mechanisms for implementing ethical standards in professional practice.