Chapter 1 of 612% of exam

Professional Practice and Ethics

This domain covers the administrative and clinical protocols of safe practice: competence, informed consent, confidentiality and its limits, boundaries, records, technology, and the research literacy counselors need to read evidence. Items usually describe a situation and ask what the counselor's ethics code requires.

Informed consent and the limits of confidentiality

Consent is an ongoing process, not a form signed once. Clients need to know what counseling involves, what it costs, who can see their information, and when confidentiality ends. Mandated clients, couples, families, groups and minors each add a twist to who the client is and what can be shared.

Consent is ongoing

Counselors review rights and responsibilities in writing and verbally, and document consent discussions throughout the relationship.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), A.2.a

Mandated clients

Before counseling begins, explain what information will be shared and with whom; the client may refuse and should hear the consequences.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), A.2.e

Who is the client

In couples and family work, absent an agreement to the contrary, the couple or family is the client.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), B.4.b

Harm and legal exceptions

Confidentiality does not apply when disclosure is required to protect clients or identified others from serious and foreseeable harm, or when the law demands it.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), B.2.a

Court orders

Seek the client's written consent or ask that disclosure be prohibited or limited as narrowly as possible; release only what is required.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), B.2.d; NBCC Code of Ethics (2023), directive 31

Boundaries and relationships

The codes separate prohibited relationships from boundary extensions that call for judgment and documentation. Both ACA and NBCC use a five-year line for romantic or sexual contact with former clients, and both restrict personal connections with clients online.

Former clients

Sexual or romantic relationships with former clients, their partners or family members are prohibited for 5 years after last professional contact, and later only with documented forethought about exploitation.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), A.5.c

Online relationships

Personal virtual relationships with current clients are prohibited; NBCC directs counselors not to connect with or follow client social media accounts.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), A.5.e; NBCC Code of Ethics (2023), directive 114

Bartering

Permitted only if the client requests it, it is accepted locally, it does not exploit or harm, and it is documented in a written contract.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), A.10.e

Gifts

NBCC permits gifts only when culturally appropriate or therapeutically relevant, and acceptance is documented in the record.

NBCC Code of Ethics (2023), directive 21

Self-referral

Agency counselors do not refer agency clients to their own private practice unless agency policy explicitly allows it.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), A.10.a

Competence, records, technology and colleagues

Counselors practice within the limits of their training, keep records clients can reasonably access, follow the law of both locations in distance counseling, and address colleagues' lapses first informally when no serious harm has occurred.

Boundaries of competence

Practice only within education, training, supervised experience and credentials; new specialty areas require training and supervised experience.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), C.2.a-C.2.b

Client access to records

Competent clients get reasonable access; limit it only on compelling evidence of harm, and document the request and rationale.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), B.6.e

Distance counseling law

Counselors may be subject to the laws of both their practice location and the client's place of residence.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), H.1.b

Colleague violations

If no substantial harm has occurred, first attempt informal resolution with the colleague when feasible; otherwise take further action.

ACA Code of Ethics (2014), I.2.a; NBCC Code of Ethics (2023), directive 10

Research and statistical literacy

The outline asks counselors to understand statistical concepts and research methods well enough to judge evidence. Expect questions on variables, error types, and the ethical rules for research participants.

Variables

The independent variable is what the researcher manipulates; the dependent variable is the outcome measured.

CACREP 2024 common core: Research and Program Evaluation

Type I and Type II errors

A Type I error claims an effect that does not exist (rejecting a true null); a Type II error misses an effect that does exist.

NBCC NCE Content Outline (2023), Domain 1B

Research consent

Participants receive the purpose, procedures, risks and right to withdraw, and written consent is obtained.

NBCC Code of Ethics (2023), directive 74

Deception

Only when no alternative exists and the study has significant value, with debriefing and no techniques expected to cause harm.

NBCC Code of Ethics (2023), directive 76

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