# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 58 — Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists

### Chapter 03 — Code of Ethics

#### Regulation .10 Physical Contact.

*COMAR 10.58.03.10*

A. A counselor engaging in nontraditional treatment modalities using physical contact with a client shall document in a client's record:

  (1) An assessment of a client;

  (2) A written rationale for the use of the physical contact treatment modality for a client; and

  (3) A copy of the informed consent, signed and dated by the client and the counselor which addresses:

    (a) The risks and benefits of the physical contact treatment modality;

    (b) The objective or objectives and intended outcome or outcomes of the proposed treatment;

    (c) Available alternative interventions; and

    (d) A description of the physical contact which may be reasonably anticipated by a client in the course of the proposed treatment.

B. A counselor may not engage in a treatment modality involving physical contact if the risk of psychological harm to a client, as a result of the physical contact, has been assessed by a counselor to outweigh the possible benefits of the treatment, independent of a client's wishes.