Which principle states that the effectiveness in the profession is based on being worthy of trust and never misrepresenting credentials?

• A. Principle 5 Compliance
• B. Principle 4 Trust
• C. Principle 9 Duty of Care
• D. Principle 1 Discrimination

Answer: (B)

Trust in professional practice hinges on integrity and honesty about what you can and cannot do. Being worthy of trust means presenting accurate credentials and not misrepresenting qualifications, because clients rely on those representations to determine what kind of help is appropriate for them. When credentials are inflated or falsified, the therapeutic relationship suffers, clients may experience harm, and you can face ethical and legal consequences. This principle specifically centers on maintaining honesty about qualifications, which directly supports the effectiveness of care by upholding the confidence clients place in their counselor. Other principles cover rules and standards (compliance), the obligation to provide safe and competent care (duty of care), and fairness and non-discrimination, but they do not address the central idea of trust built through truthful credential representation.