Every counselor must adhere to their state’s requirements for professional disclosure. It is legally and ethically responsible to inform your clients of what they can expect from the counseling experience, what evidence-based treatment is, the background of their provider, and the policies and procedures of the clinic or agency where they plan to receive services. Counselors should provide clients with a legal statement that discloses this information to help them understand their consent to the treatment process. Agencies have different approaches to documentation, so professional disclosure statements can shift throughout a counselor’s career. It is helpful to be prepared with your own professional disclosure statement that you can use with agencies and clients in your future counseling practice.
Research the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics section on Informed Consent in the Counseling Relationship and the limits of confidentiality in counseling.
Develop a 350- to 525-word personalized professional disclosure statement that includes:
The requirements specified by your state
Legally appropriate verbiage about informed consent
Your theoretical approach
A crisis center to contact in case of an emergency
The role of technology (telehealth) in your sessions
Any additional pertinent information that will support clients’ understanding of your counseling approach and the services you provide
Consider cultural factors in your target population that might affect your clients’ understanding of your disclosure statement. Write your statement with clear terms legally appropriate for all your audiences—clients, clinics, and counselors alike.