Counselor ethical codes, confidentiality limits, and professional practice concepts tested on the National Counselor Examination.
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- What organization publishes the primary Code of Ethics for professional counselors in the United States?
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- Under what circumstance can a counselor break confidentiality without a court order?
- When there is imminent danger to the client or a third party, or abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult
- What is the primary purpose of informed consent in counseling?
- To ensure the client understands the goals, methods, risks, benefits, and limitations of counseling
- Define dual relationship in counseling.
- A situation where a counselor has more than one type of relationship with a client, such as being both counselor and friend or counselor and employer
- What does counselor competence mean?
- Having the knowledge, skills, training, and experience necessary to work effectively with a specific client population or presenting problem
- Define the duty to warn.
- The legal and ethical obligation to warn a third party if a client poses a serious, foreseeable danger to them
- What is privileged communication?
- A legal protection that prevents a counselor from being required to disclose client information in court proceedings
- What is scope of practice for a counselor?
- The range of client populations, presenting problems, and treatment methods for which a counselor has appropriate training and competence
- How long should a counselor maintain client records?
- Generally 5 to 7 years after the last session (varies by state law and agency requirements)
- What must be included in an informed consent document for counseling?
- Purpose of counseling, fees, risks and benefits, limits of confidentiality, counselor qualifications, and the client's right to refuse treatment
- When should a counselor refer a client to another professional?
- When the client's needs exceed the counselor's competence, when there is a conflict of interest, or when the counselor is unable to help effectively
- What does the ACA code recommend about counselor-client romantic or sexual relationships?
- They are prohibited during the counseling relationship and typically for a minimum of two years after termination
- Define self-disclosure in counseling.
- The act of sharing personal information or experiences from the counselor's own life with the client
- When is self-disclosure appropriate in counseling?
- When it is brief, serves the client's therapeutic goals, is relevant to the client's situation, and does not shift focus to the counselor's needs
- What is non-maleficence?
- The ethical principle of avoiding harm to clients, often expressed as first, do no harm