Regulation .05 The Counseling Relationship.
Regulation .05 The Counseling Relationship.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Client Welfare and Rights.
(1)
A counselor shall:
(a)
Inform clients of the purposes, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks, and benefits of services to be performed;
(b)
Explain to clients the implications of diagnosis, the intended use of tests and reports, fees, and billing arrangements;
(c)
Document attempts to inform other professional persons concurrently providing mental health services to a client;
(d)
Assist clients in making appropriate arrangements for the continuation of treatment due to interruptions including but not limited to vacations and extended illness; and
(e)
Make appropriate referrals.
(2)
A counselor may not:
(a)
Place or participate in placing clients in positions that may result in damaging the interests and the welfare of clients, employees, employers, or the public;
(b)
Condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or socioeconomic status;
(c)
Abandon or neglect clients in counseling; or
(d)
Foster dependent counseling relationships.
B.
Dual Relationships.
(1)
A counselor shall:
(a)
Avoid dual relationships with clients; and
(b)
Take appropriate measures, including but not limited to, informed consent, consultation, supervision, and documentation to ensure that judgment is not impaired and no exploitation occurs if a dual relationship cannot be avoided.
(2)
A counselor may not:
(a)
Exploit trust and dependency in relationships with supervisees, employees, research participants, students, or volunteers; or
(b)
Accept as clients superiors or subordinates with whom a counselor has administrative, supervisory, or evaluative relationships.
C.
Multiple Clients.
(1)
A counselor shall clarify the unit of treatment in a counselor's written records as:
(a)
Individual;
(b)
Couple;
(c)
Family;
(d)
Group; or
(e)
Any combination of §C(1)(a)—(d) of this regulation.
(2)
A counselor shall identify in the written records individuals present in sessions, but not a part of the unit of treatment.
(3)
A counselor shall communicate limitations on confidentiality to all clients.
D.
Termination and Referral.
(1)
Termination may occur if:
(a)
Services are no longer requested by a client;
(b)
Counseling no longer serves a client's needs or interests;
(c)
A counselor is unable to competently and ethically perform duties;
(d)
A client does not pay the fees charged; or
(e)
Agency or institution limits do not allow further counseling services.
(2)
A counselor may terminate a counseling relationship only after:
(a)
Securing a client's agreement; or
(b)
If a client does not agree to termination, offering an appropriate referral.