___________________________________ Code of Ethics for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
or during the initial counseling session. Counselors also will provide information about client’s rights and responsibilities, billing arrangements, collection procedures, confidentiality and its limitations, and records and service termination policies. Information will be provided to the client in verbal and written forms and counselors will confirm that the client understands the information. Counselors will obtain written informed consent to participate in counseling and document any client concerns related to the information provided in the client’s record. • Counselors understand that clients own the content of their clinical records, and counselors work to provide reasonable access to the content of the records when requested in a timely manner. If there is a reasonable basis to believe that direct review of the record will cause the client harm, the counselor will discuss the request and possible effects. In the case of minors, counselors may limit access to the minor client or responsible guardian if there is compelling evidence that other access may cause harm. • Counselors shall obtain a client’s written consent prior to the provision of services. • Counselors shall work collaboratively with clients in the creation of written plans of treatment that offer attainable goals and use appropriate techniques consistent with the client’s psychological and physical needs and abilities. • Counselors shall update and modify the client’s record throughout the counseling relationship when changes occur in the treatment plan, including changes relating to goals, roles, techniques, and diagnoses. Counselors shall obtain each client’s written approval for such changes. • Counselors shall clearly identify in writing the primary client in the record and record those individuals who are receiving related professional services in connection with such client relationship. In the context of couple, family or group counseling, the counselor shall not reveal any individual client’s confidences to others, without the prior written permission of that individual. • Counselors working with minors, incapacitated adults, or other persons unable to give legal consent to release confidential and privileged information, shall protect the confidentiality of information received in the counseling relationship as specified by Federal and State laws, written policies, and applicable ethical standards. In all cases, the counselor shall discuss with the client and their legal representative the limits of confidentiality and the rules concerning the release of any information. • Counselors respect and honor the inherent and legal rights of the parents and legal guardians of minors
and incapacitated adults who are legally incapable of giving informed consent. As appropriate, the counselor shall collaborate with the parent(s) or legal guardian, discussing the role of counseling, the confidential nature of the counseling relationship, and the autonomy of the client as required by the NBCC Code of Ethics, state and federal law, and other applicable ethical standards. When working with minors or incapacitated adults who are legally incapable of giving informed consent, the counselor shall consider the custody agreement, power of attorney document, or legal agreement that may impact the rights of a parent or legal guardian. • Counselors are encouraged to consult with both parents or other family members prior to delivery of services in joint custody arrangements to ensure agreement with treatment planning and record sharing. Counselors will seek permission of an appropriate parent or legal guardian to disclose information and obtain voluntary and informed consent to release confidential information when counseling minors or adults who are legally incapable of providing consent. Supervision • Counselors who provide clinical supervision shall obtain appropriate training, including continuing education concerning current clinical trends, in order to meet the needs of their supervisees and the clients they serve. • Counselors who provide supervision services shall provide accurate written information to supervisees regarding the counselor’s credentials, as well as information regarding the process of supervision. • Counselors who act as counselor educators, field placement supervisors, or clinical supervisors shall not engage in sexual or romantic intimacy, in-person or electronically, with current and former students or supervisees for at least 5 years from the date of the last academic and/or supervision contact, whichever is later. • Counselors who provide clinical supervision services shall keep accurate records of supervision goals and the supervisee’s progress confidential except to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to a client or others, or when legally required to do so by a court or government agency order. • Counselors who provide clinical supervision services shall intervene in situations where a supervisee is impaired or incompetent and potentially placing the client(s) at risk. The supervisor also may take steps to end the supervisee’s services to protect the client and may only resume services after the completion of any recommended or required remediation.
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