Code of Ethics for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists __________________________________
Advocacy Counselor educators shall advocate for counseling students to address programmatic barriers and obstacles that hinder student academic growth and development. Cultural Identity Counselor educators will practice cultural responsiveness in their teaching, and respect the cultural identity, values, sexual orientation, and gender identity, of their students.
This information should include a description of the nature of all communication security measures that are used by the counselor, including any risks or limitations related to the provision of telemental health services. • Counselors shall communicate information regarding security to clients who receive telemental health services. • Counselors shall screen potential telemental health service clients to determine whether such services are appropriate. These considerations shall be documented in the client’s record. Counselors shall advise telemental health services clients that they must be intentional about protecting their privacy and confidentiality, including advice concerning viewing employer policies relating to the possible prohibitions concerning the use of work on computer systems for personal communications, and not using “auto-remember” usernames and passwords. • During the screening or intake process, Counselors shall provide potential clients with a detailed written description of the telemental health counseling process and service provision including: ‒ The appropriateness of telemental health counseling in relation to the specific goal; ‒ The format of service delivery; ‒ The electronic equipment requirements such as the need for a computer with certain capabilities; ‒ The limitations of confidentiality; privacy concerns; the possibility of technological failure; ‒ Anticipated response time to electronic communication; ‒ Alternate service delivery processes; and, ‒ Any additional considerations necessary to assist
DISTANCE SERVICES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
The Board of Directors for NBCC addressed the potential impact of computers on the counseling profession beginning in 1997. The NBCC adopted the Standards for the Ethical Practice of Web Counseling, which was the first time a national association in the mental health profession had addressed stan- dards in this critical area. Technology is constantly changing, so the NBCC Board of Directors continues to review and revise the standards and policies. The Board approved the current revision in 2023 to guide the practice of online counseling. The entire document should be reviewed at the NBCC website before proceeding with distance services. The NBCC 2023 revised Code of Ethics continues as follows: Telemental Health • Counselors shall provide only those telemental health services for which they are qualified by education and experience. • Counselors shall carefully adhere to legal requirements when providing telemental health services. This requirement includes legal regulations from the State(s) in which the counselor and client are located and document relevant State requirements in the relevant client record(s). • Counselors shall ensure that the electronic means used in providing telemental health services are following current Federal and State laws and regulatory standards concerning telemental health service. • Counselors shall ensure that all electronic technology communications with clients are encrypted and secure. • Counselors shall maintain records of all clinical contacts with telemental health service clients. • Counselors shall set clear expectations and boundaries with telemental health service recipients about the type(s) and timing of communications that will be included in service provision. These shall be communicated in writing in disclosure documents provided to clients. • Counselors shall provide written information to all telemental health clients regarding the protection of client records, accounts and related passwords, electronic communications, and client identity.
the potential client in reaching a determination about the appropriateness of the telemental health service delivery format for their needs,
and document such information and the discussion of alternative service options and referrals in the client’s record. • Counselors shall prevent the distribution of confidential telemental health client information to unauthorized individuals and discuss actions the client may take to reduce the possibility that such confidential information is sent to unauthorized individuals in error. • Counselors shall provide clients of telemental health services with information concerning their professional preparation and/or credentials related to telemental health and identify the relevant credentialing organization websites.
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