Digital Boundaries in Counselor Education: Applying the aca Ethical Decision-Making Model

Based on the 2025 first-place-winning submission in the American Counseling Association ( aca ) Graduate Student Ethics Competition for doctoral students, this article applies the aca Ethical Decision-Making Model to an ethical dilemma about a fictional doctoral student in a Counselor Education and Supervision program. Ethical decision-making models serve as an integral resource for counselors and counselor educators to guide ethical behavior. By presenting an example of how to practically apply an ethical decision-making model, this paper aims to highlight the ethical decision-making process within a counselor education setting. Specifically, this case study involves assessing a boundary issue between a doctoral student instructor and a master’s-level student, highlighting ethical decision-making in situations involving dual roles and power differentials in counselor education. Through application of the aca Ethical Decision-Making Model to the case study, the authors examine the problem, apply the aca Code of Ethics and ethical values, and discuss potential courses of action. Implications for counselors and counselor educators are provided.