Informed consent is a document that explains the relationship between a client and their counselor. It also helped the clients to better understand what is expected of them and also what is expected of the counselor. This document sets the “ground rules” for the counseling process and the relationship between the counselor and their client. Informed consent is an extremely vital part of the counseling process. This can be used as a relationship builder between a counselor and the client because it helps to explain the process and how everything is going to happen. Informed consent allows the counselor to have an idea of the expectations they have for the sessions.
There are several purposes as to why we provide clients with informed consent. …show more content…
We need to express to them that we will do everything in our power to keep what is said between us private. Confidentiality is both a legal and ethical duty of us as counselors to protect the information disclosed from our clients. There are a few circumstances in which we would be require to break confidentiality. It is important that we are clear on defining what these limitations are. A limitation to confidentiality is if the client mentions ongoing child or elderly abuse. We also have a duty to warn as counselors. If our client mentions in session that they are going to harm themselves or someone else, we are required to warn. There are some legal reasons we may have to break confidentiality. For example, if we are subpoenaed by a court of law and have to testify, we are required to do so. We are also required to give information if requested by our client’s probation officer. Due to FERPA, parents who have children under the age of 18 seeking services are allowed assess to what we discuss in sessions. Third party reimbursements, such as insurance companies, and debt collectors are also allowed confidential information on our client. It is important that we address these limitations are the beginning of services, but then revisit them as we
There are several purposes as to why we provide clients with informed consent. …show more content…
We need to express to them that we will do everything in our power to keep what is said between us private. Confidentiality is both a legal and ethical duty of us as counselors to protect the information disclosed from our clients. There are a few circumstances in which we would be require to break confidentiality. It is important that we are clear on defining what these limitations are. A limitation to confidentiality is if the client mentions ongoing child or elderly abuse. We also have a duty to warn as counselors. If our client mentions in session that they are going to harm themselves or someone else, we are required to warn. There are some legal reasons we may have to break confidentiality. For example, if we are subpoenaed by a court of law and have to testify, we are required to do so. We are also required to give information if requested by our client’s probation officer. Due to FERPA, parents who have children under the age of 18 seeking services are allowed assess to what we discuss in sessions. Third party reimbursements, such as insurance companies, and debt collectors are also allowed confidential information on our client. It is important that we address these limitations are the beginning of services, but then revisit them as we