Professional disclosure statement tells clients about:o the education and qualifications of the therapisto the nature of the therapeutic process
o Informed Consent
o Document that the client reads about the specifics of therapy treatment
o Client consents to treatment by signing the form
o Procedures and goals of therapy
o Potential harms or risks to client
o Reasonable benefits of therapy
o Qualifications and policies of therapist
o Theoretical orientation of therapist
o Ability to terminate treatment at any time
o Reassurance of referral sources for treatment (3 is standard)
o Fee disclosure
Confidentiality
o Ethical obligation of therapist to keep communications between themselves and client private.
o May be charged in contempt of court if therapist refuses to testify about a client.
Exceptions:o Child abuse reporting laws: mandated to report the suspicion of child abuse or neglect. (in some states this is required of all citizens not just counselors)
o Duty to warn: if therapist establishes there is a likelihood that client will cause harm to him/herself or to someone else and the therapist knows who that victim may be.
Privilege- Legal right, owned by the client, which is an exception to the general rule that the public has a right to relevant knowledge in court proceedings. This means information revealed in session is not permitted in court.
Appropriate standard of care- how most therapists would treat a case under similar circumstances. Those who do not follow this are at risk for malpractice.
Dual relationship- occur when therapist does not keep appropriate boundaries and thereby blends personal or business relationships with the therapeutic relationship.
Secret policies- written statements about how information shared privately will be handled by the therapist. Must be signed by both parties.
