These professional values provide a conceptual basis for
the ethical principles enumerated below. These principles
are
• the foundation for ethical behavior and decision making.
The fundamental principles of professional ethical
behavior are autonomy, or fostering the right to control
the direction of one's life;
• • nonmaleficence, or avoiding actions that cause harm;
• • beneficence, or working for the good of the individual
and society by promoting mental health and well-being;