ADVISORY OPINIONS FROM ETHICS COMMITTEE MINUTES 1996 - 2007

 

Opinions by Section and Date

 

Preamble

 

8/96, 5/97, 8/97, 6/01(1), 6/02(2), 6/04(2)

 

Section A: The Counseling Relationship

 

A.1 ~ Client Welfare

A.1.a. (Definition of Client) ~ 5/97, 8/97, 11/01(1), 11/04(1), 11/05(1), 11/06(1), 06/07(1), 08/07(1), 08/07(3), 11/07(1), 12/07(1)

A.1.b. (Rehabilitation and Counseling Plans) ~ 11/00(2), 3/05(1), 11/06(1), 08/07(3), 08/07(4), 11/07(2), 11/07(3)

A.1.c. (Career and Employment Needs) ~ 5/97, 11/00(2), 6/01(2), 6/01(3), 6/02(4), 3/04(4), 3/05(1), 10/06(2), 11/06(1), 08/07(4), 11/07(2)

A.1.d. (Autonomy) ~ 2/97

 

A. 3 ~ Client Rights

A.3.a. (Disclosure to Clients) ~ 3/96, 2/97, 5/97, 6/97, 8/97, 10/97, 4/99(1), 4/99(4), 9/99(1), 9/99(2), 11/99(1), 6/00, 8/00, 11/00(1), 11/00(2), 6/01(1), 6/01(2), 8/01(2), 8/01(3), 11/01(1), 3/02(2), 11/02(1), 11/02(2), 11/02(4), 3/03(2), 8/03(1), 3/04(3), 3/04(4), 6/04(1), 11/04(1), 9/05(2), 9/05(3), 11/05(1), 3/06(1), 3/06(2), 6/06(1), 10/06(1), 10/06(2), 06/07(1), 08/07(1), 08/07(3), 11/07(1), 12/07(1)

A.3.b. (Third Party Referral) ~8/97, 10/97, 4/99(4), 9/99(1), 11/01(1), 3/03(2)

A.3.c. (Indirect Service Provision) ~ 8/97, 4/99(2), 6/99, 11/99(3), 3/03(2), 3/04(2), 3/05(2), 5/05(4), 9/06(1), 06/07(1)

A.3.d. (Freedom of Choice) ~ 8/97, 8/00, 11/00(2), 11/02(2), 06/07(1), 11/07(3)

A.3.e. (Inability to Give Consent) ~ 12/07(1)

A.3.f. (Involvement of Significant Others) ~ 12/07(1)

 

A. 6 ~ Non-Professional Relationships with Clients

A.6.a. (Potential for Harm) ~ 6/06(1), 08/07(1)

 

A.9 ~ Termination and Referral

A.9.a. (Abandonment Prohibited) ~ 6/01(6)

A.9.b. (Inability to Assist Clients) ~ 11/02(2), 10/06(1), 10/06(2)

A.9.d. (Referral Upon Termination) ~ 10/06(1), 10/06(2)

 

Section B: Confidentiality ~ 5/05(5)

 

B.1 ~ Right to Privacy ~ 11/04(2)

B.1.a. (Respect for Privacy) ~ 3/96, 9/99(2), 9/99(3), 11/99(1), 6/01(1), 6/01(4), 6/01(5), 3/02(1), 6/02(2), 8/02(1), 11/02(3), 11/03(1), 3/04(5), 9/06(1), 12/07(1)

B.1.b. (Client Waiver) ~ 3/00(2), 11/03(1)

B.1.c. (Exceptions) ~ 3/96, 3/04(4), 5/05(1), 11/05(3), 12/07(1)

B.1.e. (Court-Ordered Disclosure) ~ 4/99(2), 5/05(1)

B.1.f. (Minimal Disclosure) ~ 6/01(1), 11/02(3), 5/05(1), 9/05(2), 11/05(3), 3/06(1), 10/06(1), 10/06(2). 12/07(1)

B.1.g. (Explanation of Limitations) ~ 11/99(1), 8/01(3), 8/03(4), 10/06(1), 10/06(2), 12/07(1)

B.1.h. (Work Environment) ~ 9/99(3), 6/01(5), 3/02(1), 8/02(1), 3/04(5)

 

B.3 ~ Records

B.3.a. (Requirement of Records) ~ 5/05(3), 9/05(2)

B.3.b. (Confidentiality of Records) ~ 11/99(1), 8/03(4)

B.3.c. (Permission to Record or Observe) ~ 5/05(3)

B.3.d. (Client Access) ~ 5/05(3)

B.3.e. (Disclosure or Transfer) ~ 6/01(4), 8/01(1)

 

Section C: Advocacy and Accessibility

 

C.1 ~ Advocacy

C.1.a. (Attitudinal Barriers) ~ 2/97

C.1.b. (Advocacy with Cooperating Agencies) ~ 6/00

C.1.c. (Empowerment) ~ 6/00, 11/03(1), 10/06(1), 10/06(2)

 

C.2 ~ Accessibility

C.2.b. (Barriers to Access) ~ 11/03(1)

 

Section D: Professional Responsibility

 

D.1 ~ Professional Competence

D.1.a. (Boundaries of Competence) ~ 5/97, 4/99(5), 11/99(2), 6/01(1), 8/03(3), 11/05(2), 11/05(4), 10/06(2), 08/07(1), 08/07(4), 11/07(2), 12/07(1)

D.1.b. (Referral) ~ 8/00, 08/07(4), 11/07(2), 12/07(1)

D.1.c. (New Specialty Areas of Practice) ~ 6/01(1), 08/07(4), 11/07(2)

D.1.d. (Resources) ~ 11/02(1)

D.1.g. (Ethical Issues Consultation) ~ 11/01(3), 10/06(1), 10/06(2)

D.1.h. (Continuing Education) ~ 11/02(3)

 

D.2 ~ Legal Standards

D.2.a. (Legal v. Ethical) ~ 4/99(1), 6/01(1), 6/01(2), 6/01(3), 8/01(3), 6/02(1), 6/02(2), 6/02(4), 3/04(3), 11/04(2), 5/05(3), 5/05(5), 11/05(2), 11/05(3), 11/05(4), 3/06(1), 3/06(3), 6/06(2), 10/06(1), 10/06(2), 08/07(3), 08/07(4), 11/07(2), 12/07(1)

D.2.b. (Legal Limitations) ~ 4/99(1), 6/01(2), 6/01(3), 8/01(3), 6/02(2), 11/02(3), 3/04(3), 5/05(5), 11/05(3), 3/06(1), 3/06(3), 6/06(2), 10/06(1), 10/06(2), 08/07(3), 08/07(4), 11/07(2)

 

D.3 ~ Advertising and Soliciting Clients

D.3.d. (Testimonials) ~ 11/01(1)

 

D.4 ~ Credentials

D.4.a. (Credentials Claimed) ~ 5/97, 4/99(1), 11/02(4), 3/03(1), 5/05(2), 9/05(1)

D.4.b. (Credential Guidelines) ~ 5/97

D.4.c. (Misrepresentation of Credentials) ~ 8/96, 5/97, 11/05(4)

D.4.d. (Doctoral Degrees from Other Fields) ~ 11/01(2), 11/02(4)

 

D.6 ~ Public Responsibility

D.6.b. (Reports to Third Parties) ~ 4/99(2), 11/01(1), 8/03(1), 3/04(1), 3/04(2), 3/04(3), 6/04(1)

D.6.d. (Conflicts of Interest) ~ 11/00(1), 08/07(3), 11/07(1)

D.6.e. (Dishonesty) ~ 3/04(1)

 

D.7 ~ Responsibility to Other Professionals

D.7.a. (Disparaging Comments) ~ 8/02(2), 3/04(1), 3/04(2), 3/05(2), 11/05(4)

 

Section E: Relationships with Other Professionals

 

E.1 ~ Relationships with Employers and Employees

E.1.a. (Negative Conditions) ~ 4/99(5), 9/99(3), 6/01(5), 3/02(1), 8/02(1), 3/04(5), 11/05(1), 10/06(1), 10/06(2)

E.1.e. (Employer Policies) ~ 5/97, 4/99(5), 9/99(3), 6/02(2), 6/01(3), 6/01(5), 3/02(1), 8/02(1), 11/03(2), 3/04(5), 9/05(2), 11/05(1), 06/07(1)

 

E.3 ~ Agency and Team Relationships

E.3.a. (Client as a Team Member) ~ 3/00(2)

E.3.b  (Communication) ~ 3/04(4)

E.3.c. (Dissent) ~ 5/97

 

Section F: Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation

 

F.1 ~ Informed Consent

F.1.a. (Explanation to Clients) ~ 3/96, 3/06(2)

F.1.b. (Recipients of Results) ~ 3/96, 11/05(5)

 

F.2 ~ Release of Information to Competent Professionals

F.2.a. (Misuse of Results) ~ 11/05(5)

F.2.b. (Release of Raw Data) ~ 3/96, 11/05(5)

 

F.4 ~ Proper Diagnosis of Mental Disorders ~ 8/03(3)

 

F.6 ~ Test Selection

            F.6.a. (Appropriateness of Instruments) ~ 08/07(2)

 

F.7 ~ Conditions of Test Administration

 

            F.7.a. (Administration Conditions) ~ 11/05(5)

 

F.10 ~ Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test Results ~ 08/07(2)

 

F.12. ~ Forensic Evaluation ~ 8/97, 4/99(2), 9/99(1), 11/01(1), 6/02(3), 8/03(1), 3/04(1), 3/04(2), 6/04(1), 3/06(2), 9/06(1), 06/07(1)

 

Section G: Teaching, Training, and Supervision

 

G.1 ~ Rehabilitation Counselor Educators and Trainers

            G.1.d. (Responsibility for Services to Clients) ~ 11/06 (1)

 

G.3 ~ Students and Supervisees

G.3.e. (Professional Development) ~ 6/01(1), 11/05(1)

 

Section H: Research and Publication

 

None

Section I: Electronic Communication and Emerging Applications

 

I.1 ~ Communication ~ 4/99(2)

I.1.a. (Communication Tools) ~ 6/01(1)

 

I.2 ~ Counseling Relationship ~ 4/99(2)

I.2.a. (Ethical/Legal Review) ~ 6/01(1)

I.2.c. (Records Preservation) ~ 8/03(2), 9/05(2)

 

Section J: Business Practices

 

J.1 ~ Billing ~ 8/01(2)

 

J.3 ~ Client Records

J.3.a. (Accurate Documentation) ~ 6/02(1)

J.3.b  (Sufficient Documentation) ~ 3/04(3)

J.3.d. (Maintenance) ~ 6/02(1), 11/07(1)

 

J.4 ~ Fees and Bartering

J.4.a. (Advance Understanding) ~ 3/00(1), 8/01(2)

 

J.5 ~ Fees for Referral

J.5.a. (Accepting Fees From Agency Clients) ~ 11/00(1)

 

Section K: Resolving Ethical Issues

 

K.2 ~ Suspected Violations

K.2.a. (Consultation) ~ 4/99(2), 11/01(3)

K.2.b. (Organization Conflicts) ~ 6/01(1), 11/07(2)

K.2.c. (Informal Resolution) ~ 9/98, 4/99(5), 6/99, 8/01(1), 8/02(2), 3/04(2)

K.2.d. (Reporting Suspected Violations) ~ 9/98, 4/99(5), 6/99, 8/01(1), 8/02(2), 3/04(2), 5/05(4)

 

OPINIONS BY DATE

 

3/96

The Committee reviewed two requests for interpretation of the Code.  The Committee responded that personnel in both centers should inform students of the policy prior to entering into testing and/or counseling sessions.  The Committee also requested that a response be sent to the questioner stating that Child Protective Service rules vary within state and that he should check required reporting within the jurisdiction and with corporate legal counsel.  Further, the letter should state that good practice in rehabilitation counseling is to inform clients of limits to confidentiality at the onset of service and subsequently when issues arise.  (A.3.a, B.1.a, B.1.c, F.1.a, F.1.b, F.2.b)

 

  • Disclosure
  • Confidentiality
  • Informed Consent

 

8/96

An organization requested CRCC’s response as to whether a CRC would be required to sign an acknowledgment stating that they abide by the Code of Professional Ethics for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.  The Committee responded that as a CRC, they are bound to abide by the Code of Ethics and it would be their choice whether they wish to sign the acknowledgment.  It should also be stated that the acknowledgment only notes “rehabilitation counselors” and not “Certified Rehabilitation Counselors”; therefore, requesting that non-certified individuals abide by the Code of Ethics when in fact non-certified individuals are not bound to the Code of Ethics and there is no adjudication process available for those who are not CRCs.  Further, it should not be construed that a non-certified individual has the requisite knowledge and experience to practice as a CRC. (Preamble, D.4.c)

 

  • Applicability of Code
  • Credentials

 

2/97

The Committee reviewed a request for an advisory opinion wherein an attorney questioned the advice of a CRC who, according to the attorney, stated that the client’s accommodations required to perform the essential functions of a job must not be revealed to a potential employer in the resume and should not be revealed otherwise until a job offer is made.  The Committee responded that this appears to be an issue of informed choice and autonomy.  The CRC has the right to suggest appropriate actions for their client, however, the client has the right to choose whichever method