RIGHTS,

RESPONSIBILITIES AND
ACCOUTABILITIES OF A
COUNSELOR:
Confidentiality
AREAS DESCRIPTION

1. Right Respect client’s right to privacy and

to avoid illegal and unwarranted
Privacy disclosures of unwarranted
information.
May be waived by the clients or their
legally recognized representative.
General requirement that counselor
keep information confidential does
not apply when disclosure is required
to prevent clear and imminent
danger to the client or others or
when legal requirements demand
that confidential information be
revealed.
2. Group In group work, counselors clearly
and define confidentiality and parameters
Families for the specific group being entered,
explain its importance, and discuss
difficulties related to confidentiality
involved in the group work.
In family counseling, information
about one family cannot be disclosed
to another member without permission

3. Minor When counseling clients who are minors

Incompetent or individuals who are unable to give
Clients voluntary, informed consent, parents or
guardians may be included in the
counseling process as appropriate.
4.  Maintain records necessary for rendering
Records professional services to their clients and as
required by laws, regulations, or agency or
institution procedures.
 Responsible for securing the safety and
confidentiality of any counseling records
they create, maintain, transfer or destroy
whether the records are written, taped,
computerized or stored in any medium.
 Recognize that counseling records are kept
for the benefit of the client therefore
provide access to record and copies of
record when requested by competent clients
unless it contains information that may be
misleading or detrimental to the clients.
 Obtain written permission from clients to
disclose or transfer records to legitimate
third parties unless exception too
confidentiality exist.
5. Research  use of data derived from counseling
and Training relationships for purpose of training,
research, or publication is confined to
content that is disguised to ensure the
anonymity of the individuals involved is
permissible only when the client has
reviewed the material and has agreed to
its presentation or publication.

6.  Information obtained in a consulting

Consultation relationship is discussed for professional
purposes only with the persons clearly
concerned with the case.
 before sharing information, counselors make
efforts to ensure that there are defined
policies that effectively protect the
confidentiality of information with other
agencies serving the counselor’s clients.
Activity: debate

Will I report my client or Not?

1. In the area of confidentiality of the
code of ethics, there is a portion on the
client’s right to privacy. What if the
counselor, in his/her conversation with
the client, found out that the client
accidentally killed a person, will you
report the client to police or not?
 Professional Responsibility
AREAS DESCRIPTION

1. Standards Have the responsibility to read, understand,

Knowledge and follow the code of ethics and standards
of Practice

2. Professional Practice only within the boundaries of their

competence competence based on their education,
training, supervised experience, state and
national professional credentials and
appropriate professional credentials and
appropriate professional experience.
Will demonstrate a commitment to gain
knowledge, personal awareness, sensitivity
and skills.
 Practice in specialty areas new to them only
after appropriate education, training, and
supervised experience. While developing skills
in new specialty area, counselors take step to
ensure the competence of their work and to
protect other from possible harm.
 Accept employment only for positions which
they are qualified by education, training,
supervised experience, state and national
credentials, and appropriate professional
experience.
 Continually monitor their effectiveness as
professionals and take steps to improve their
skills and knowledge.
 Refrain from offering or accepting professional
services when their physical, mental or
emotional problems are likely to ham clients
or others.
 IDENTIFY WHAT AREA OF
CONFIDENTIALITY ARE THE
FOLLOWING.
1. USE DATA DERIVED FROM COUNSELING RELATONSHIP FOR
PURPOSE OF TRAINING, RESEARCH OR PUBLICATOION.
2. COUNSELORS CLEARLY DEFINE CONFIDENTIALITY AND
PARAMETERS FOR THE SPECIFIC GROUP BEING ENTERED,
EXPLAIN ITS IMPORTANCE AND DIFFICULTIES.
3. CLIENTS ARE MINORS OR INDIVIDUAL WHO ARE UNABLE TO
GIVE VOLUNTARY INFORMED CONSENT, PARENTS OR GUARDIAN
MAYBE INCLUDED IN COUNSELING PROCESS.
4. RESPECTS CLIENT TO PRIVACY AND AVOID ILLEGAL AND
UNWARRANTED DISCLOSURES OR UNWARRANTED
INFORMATION.
5. ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURING THE SAFETY AND
CONFIDENTIAL OF ANY COUNSELING RECORD THEY CREATE.