Contends counselors should give potential clients enough information in the initial session to make a decision about whether they are right for their counselor and whether their counselor is right for them. Claims using a brochure detailing consumer rights and responsibilities, qualifications of the counselor, and general grievance procedures is…

Presents four possible alternatives for handling intrafamily confidentiality, and evaluates the alternatives in accordance with Kitchener's ethical principles. Concludes that confidentiality exists for the benefit of the client, and when that benefit ceases to exist or is overridden by other factors, alternatives to absolute confidentiality must…

Reviews background and case histories surrounding legal concept of "duty to warn" and confidentiality limits of counseling. Discusses professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities of mental health counselors and identifies steps to follow for counselors who have to warn potential victims of danger from their clients. (Author/ABL)

Describes the results of research that explored how mental health counselors consider the confidentiality of minors and conditions under which they would breach it. Results indicate that mental health counselors are protective of their minor clients' confidentiality rights with variation based on degree of seriousness and age of the client.…

In mental health practice, no explicit provisions have been made for existing law and codes of ethics to protect freedom and confidences of clients who rationally desire to end their lives. Makes a case for permitting suicide by providing an analysis of permitted suicide, the legal background for applying this concept, and ten model rules for…

Clarifies issues of professional values, professional ethics, and legal requirements involved in counseling clients who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive. Discusses implications for the practice of mental health counseling with clients infected with HIV. Proposes suggestions for step-by-step measures of action for mental health…

Surveys 108 mental health counselors about their experiences and perceptions of the impact of managed care on their work and the effects of managed care on their compliance with professional ethics. The majority reported that managed care has negatively affected their work and that the protection of the confidentiality of client disclosures has…

Discusses confidentiality in counseling, basing comments on ethical standards of American Association for Counseling and Development and National Academy of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors, as well as federal regulations adopted for drug and alcohol abuse treatment. Discusses disclosures with and without client consent and special…

Discusses the newly revised Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Counseling Association and the recognized terms and conditions under which counselors are justified in disclosing confidential client information to prevent third parties from contracting contagious, fatal diseases. Provides ethical guidelines for interpreting and…

Examines the ethical and legal dilemmas faced by mental health professionals who deal with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Concentrates on professional responsibility, competence, and confidentiality. Special attention is paid to court cases that have implications for counselors working with clients who…