Professional Ethics icon
Professional Ethics

Professional Law and Ethics encompasses a wide range of rules, regulations, codes, and laws that define the standard of what is appropriate professional practice. The standards come from many sources... more
Professional Law and Ethics encompasses a wide range of rules, regulations, codes, and laws that define the standard of what is appropriate professional practice. The standards come from many sources. They may include state and federal laws, professional ethics codes, workplace policies, and common practice among professionals. The purpose of Professional Law and Ethics is to protect the safety and welfare of clients, patients, clinicians, and the general public.
{{question.title}}
View all {{question.answerCount}} answers
{{answer.profile.locationStr}}
 {{ metersToMiles(answer._rankingInfo.matchedGeoLocation.distance) | niceDistance }}
{{answer.profile.name}}
{{answer.profile.title}}
 more
View Profile
 Call
{{answer.profile.phone}}No Number Provided

Questions and Answers

How does counseling end?

Kevin Mimms
Kevin Mimms
Building Better Connections

It is usually time to end counseling sessions when it is clear to both the client and the counselor that therapeutic goals have been reached and enough improvement has been made that the client can continue without that support. There are exceptions to this rule, but for the most part this is when... more

The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist nor does it create a therapist-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide. If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.
Laura Cassity, LMSW, LMAC
Laura Cassity, LMSW, LMAC
Affiliated Family Counselors
The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist nor does it create a therapist-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide. If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.
Mary Kate Veal
Mary Kate Veal
In-person/Telehealth Collaborative Therapist

For me, I check in with Clients about every 3-4 sessions to ask how they are feeling about their counseling journey and what they are hoping for in terms of continuing (more sessions, fewer sessions, terminating). On almost all occasions, my professional opinion is pretty close to the client's... more

The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist nor does it create a therapist-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide. If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.
Garysha Youngblood
Garysha Youngblood
Background in treatment for individuals with addiction and correctional backgrounds

Therapy is a journey and like most journeys, there is always an ending. When a client has met their intended goals or has built confidence in skills they have learned in therapy, that's when they begin to transition. Furthermore, if a therapist and client aren't a good match or the therapist... more

The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist nor does it create a therapist-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide. If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.

My therapist betrayed my trust

Eric Ström, JD, MA, LMHC
Eric Ström, JD, MA, LMHC
Attorney & Licensed Mental Health Counselor

I'm sorry to hear that this has happened. Counselors are legally and ethically required to make sure that they always put the wellbeing of their clients above their own interests. In addition, counselor ethical rules, and the laws in just about every state, make it illegal for counselors to take... more

The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care or legal advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist/attorney nor does it create a therapist-client nor attorney-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide.   If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.

I'm in high school, and I want to be a psychologist

Cynthia Finefrock
Cynthia Finefrock
LPC Associate, supervised by Martin K. Shaw, LPC-S, LMFT and Christy Graham, LPC-S, RPT-S

Hi! My name's Cindy. I'm not a psychologist, but I am a pre-licensed professional counselor. I can share with you some details about my college experience and afterward. I attended Texas Woman's University, earning a Master of Science in Counseling & Development with an emphasis on Clinical... more

The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist nor does it create a therapist-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide. If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.

The organization I work for has told me I cannot go to my 12 step meetings

Rachelle Bloksberg
Rachelle Bloksberg
Become the best version of yourself.

It is good to hear you are serious about your sobriety. Maintaining confidentiality and professional distance while living in a small community can be difficult. There are alternative programs to support your sobriety online. They offer an extra layer of privacy compared to in-person meetings. You... more

The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist nor does it create a therapist-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide. If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.
Jason Lynch, MS, LMHC, LCAC, ADS
Jason Lynch, MS, LMHC, LCAC, ADS
Individual & Couples Therapy

I worked for an organization that had a similar policy, although I'm not aware of it ever being enforced. Most of the employees were in recovery and active in 12-step programs. It has always been my personal practice that if I am present at a meeting and encounter a current client, I will leave. No... more

The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist nor does it create a therapist-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide. If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.

Can a past therapist disclose information to a current therapist that you are seeing?

Erin Pritchard, MA, LPCC-S | EMDR Intensives
Erin Pritchard, MA, LPCC-S | EMDR Intensives
Sea Glass Counseling and Consultation

No, not without a signed release of information (ROI) from you (the client).

The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist nor does it create a therapist-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide. If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.

Is it ethical for a social worker to ignore a client’s phone calls?

Eric Ström, JD, MA, LMHC
Eric Ström, JD, MA, LMHC
Attorney & Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Mental health providers should promptly return calls from current clients as well as from potential clients. This is even true if the social worker (or counselor) is unable to make an appointment with the caller. In that case the social worker should call you back to let you know that he is unable... more

The information above is intended as general information...  (more)The information above is intended as general information based on minimal information, and does not constitute health care nor legal advice. This information does not constitute communication with a counselor/therapist/attorney nor does it create a therapist-client nor attorney-client relationship nor any of the privileges that relationship may provide. If you are currently feeling suicidal or are in crisis, call 911 or proceed to your local emergency room.

Other Topics