NCE Exam: Professional Orientation
and Ethics
Informed Consent should include: >>> a verbal and written review with the clt addressing:
- the purpose of therapy, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks & benefits of
therapy, counselor's qualifications/credentials, relevant experience, approach to counseling,
continuation of services upon incapacitation/death of counselor, role of technology, info about
billing/fees (incl. nonpayment), and explanation of confidentiality & its limits (abuse/neglect, SI/HI, and
group settings)
Fidelity >>> According to ACA, "honoring commitments and keeping promises, including fulfilling one's
responsibilities of trust in professional relationships"
Veracity >>> According to ACA, "dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come into
professional contact"
Justice >>> According to ACA, "treating individuals equitably & fostering fairness and equality"
* means the counselor will treat all members fairly
(usually applied in group situations)
Beneficence >>> According to ACA, "working for the good of the individual & society by promoting
mental health & well-being"
* the counselor is working for the good of the
client/group
Libel >>> Written information that can be damaging to a client's reputation (example of defamation)
Slander >>> Verbal remarks which can be damaging to a client's reputation (example of defamation)
Defamation >>> Describes behavior that can damage one's reputation (libel v. slander)
ex) the communication was untrue, the counselor knew/should've known the statement was untrue &
the communication caused some injury to the clt (re: clinical notes/verbal consultation -> avoid bias,
broad characterizations, avoid impulsive communication)
,Tarasoff v. the Board of Regents of the University of California >>> A professional helper has a "duty to
warn" a person of serious and foreseeable harm to him- or herself or to others.
* ex) HI/SI w plan
ex2) terminally ill clt with plan to end life
Exceptions to maintaining confidentiality: >>> 1. Clt is danger to self or others.
2. Clt requests release of information
3. A court orders a release of information
4. The counselor is engaged in a systematic supervision process.
5. Clerical assistants who process clt info & papers.
6. Legal and clinical consultation situations.
7. Clt raises the issue of the counselor's competence in a malpractice suit.
8. Clt is less than 18 y/o (parent can known upon req)
9. Elderly/child abuse/neglect reported
10. Insurance company/managed care company requests a diagnosis and/or relevant clinical
information
Nonmaleficence >>> According to ACA, "avoiding actions that cause harm"
* Means the counselor will do no harm to clt
Autonomy >>> According to ACA, "fostering the right to control the direction of one's life" (counselors
aim to promote this during therapeutic relationship/course)
What does it mean when we say privileged communication is "qualified" >>> When using this term to
describe privileged communication, it means that exceptions may exist:
- child abuse/neglect/exploitation
- SI/HI
- criminal intentions
- need of hospitalization
- counselor victim of malpractice
- minor/mentally incompetent (dd)
, If your state does not legally support privileged communication and you refuse to testify in court: >>>
You could be held in contempt of court
If you receive a subpoena for your clt's records from a court, should you hand over your
documentation? >>> NO!!!
UNLESS, the subpoena is accompanied by a written order issued by a judge, authorizing the disclosure of
the records or issuance of the subpoena.
Privileged communication >>> anything said to a counselor from the clt will not be divulged outside the
counseling setting w/o the client's permission
* a legal term different from confidentiality
* implied that a therapeutic interaction (verbal/written) will not be available for public inspection
THE CLIENT IS THE HOLDER OF THE PRIVILEGE
When is privileged communication not applicable? >>> - child abuse/neglect/exploitation
- SI/HI
- criminal intentions (present)
- need of hospitalization
- counselor becomes victim of malpractice suit
- does not apply to minors (legal guardians = holders of privilege)
- does not apply to those who are mentally incompetent
NCE: Counselors :: __________:Psychologists >>> EPPP : Examination for Professional Practice in
Psychology
Certification >>> Given to an individual via an organization which is not part of the state or federal
government.
* you must be certified to call yourself a certified counselor
License >>> A counseling license is granted by the state government
If NBCC believes you violated professional ethics as a NCC. They can remove your name from the list of
NCCs in the U.S., revoke your NCC status, and note in their newsletter that your NCC status has been
and Ethics
Informed Consent should include: >>> a verbal and written review with the clt addressing:
- the purpose of therapy, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks & benefits of
therapy, counselor's qualifications/credentials, relevant experience, approach to counseling,
continuation of services upon incapacitation/death of counselor, role of technology, info about
billing/fees (incl. nonpayment), and explanation of confidentiality & its limits (abuse/neglect, SI/HI, and
group settings)
Fidelity >>> According to ACA, "honoring commitments and keeping promises, including fulfilling one's
responsibilities of trust in professional relationships"
Veracity >>> According to ACA, "dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come into
professional contact"
Justice >>> According to ACA, "treating individuals equitably & fostering fairness and equality"
* means the counselor will treat all members fairly
(usually applied in group situations)
Beneficence >>> According to ACA, "working for the good of the individual & society by promoting
mental health & well-being"
* the counselor is working for the good of the
client/group
Libel >>> Written information that can be damaging to a client's reputation (example of defamation)
Slander >>> Verbal remarks which can be damaging to a client's reputation (example of defamation)
Defamation >>> Describes behavior that can damage one's reputation (libel v. slander)
ex) the communication was untrue, the counselor knew/should've known the statement was untrue &
the communication caused some injury to the clt (re: clinical notes/verbal consultation -> avoid bias,
broad characterizations, avoid impulsive communication)
,Tarasoff v. the Board of Regents of the University of California >>> A professional helper has a "duty to
warn" a person of serious and foreseeable harm to him- or herself or to others.
* ex) HI/SI w plan
ex2) terminally ill clt with plan to end life
Exceptions to maintaining confidentiality: >>> 1. Clt is danger to self or others.
2. Clt requests release of information
3. A court orders a release of information
4. The counselor is engaged in a systematic supervision process.
5. Clerical assistants who process clt info & papers.
6. Legal and clinical consultation situations.
7. Clt raises the issue of the counselor's competence in a malpractice suit.
8. Clt is less than 18 y/o (parent can known upon req)
9. Elderly/child abuse/neglect reported
10. Insurance company/managed care company requests a diagnosis and/or relevant clinical
information
Nonmaleficence >>> According to ACA, "avoiding actions that cause harm"
* Means the counselor will do no harm to clt
Autonomy >>> According to ACA, "fostering the right to control the direction of one's life" (counselors
aim to promote this during therapeutic relationship/course)
What does it mean when we say privileged communication is "qualified" >>> When using this term to
describe privileged communication, it means that exceptions may exist:
- child abuse/neglect/exploitation
- SI/HI
- criminal intentions
- need of hospitalization
- counselor victim of malpractice
- minor/mentally incompetent (dd)
, If your state does not legally support privileged communication and you refuse to testify in court: >>>
You could be held in contempt of court
If you receive a subpoena for your clt's records from a court, should you hand over your
documentation? >>> NO!!!
UNLESS, the subpoena is accompanied by a written order issued by a judge, authorizing the disclosure of
the records or issuance of the subpoena.
Privileged communication >>> anything said to a counselor from the clt will not be divulged outside the
counseling setting w/o the client's permission
* a legal term different from confidentiality
* implied that a therapeutic interaction (verbal/written) will not be available for public inspection
THE CLIENT IS THE HOLDER OF THE PRIVILEGE
When is privileged communication not applicable? >>> - child abuse/neglect/exploitation
- SI/HI
- criminal intentions (present)
- need of hospitalization
- counselor becomes victim of malpractice suit
- does not apply to minors (legal guardians = holders of privilege)
- does not apply to those who are mentally incompetent
NCE: Counselors :: __________:Psychologists >>> EPPP : Examination for Professional Practice in
Psychology
Certification >>> Given to an individual via an organization which is not part of the state or federal
government.
* you must be certified to call yourself a certified counselor
License >>> A counseling license is granted by the state government
If NBCC believes you violated professional ethics as a NCC. They can remove your name from the list of
NCCs in the U.S., revoke your NCC status, and note in their newsletter that your NCC status has been
