1. A. Client Welfare and Rights.

   1. (1) A counselor shall:

      1. (a) Inform clients of the purposes, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks, and benefits of services to be performed;
      2. (b) Explain to clients the implications of diagnosis, the intended use of tests and reports, fees, and billing arrangements;
      3. (c) Document attempts to inform other professional persons concurrently providing mental health services to a client;
      4. (d) Assist clients in making appropriate arrangements for the continuation of treatment due to interruptions including but not limited to vacations and extended illness; and
      5. (e) Make appropriate referrals.

   2. (2) A counselor may not:

      1. (a) Place or participate in placing clients in positions that may result in damaging the interests and the welfare of clients, employees, employers, or the public;
      2. (b) Condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or socioeconomic status;
      3. (c) Abandon or neglect clients in counseling; or
      4. (d) Foster dependent counseling relationships.

2. B. Dual Relationships.

   1. (1) A counselor shall:

      1. (a) Avoid dual relationships with clients; and
      2. (b) Take appropriate measures, including but not limited to, informed consent, consultation, supervision, and documentation to ensure that judgment is not impaired and no exploitation occurs if a dual relationship cannot be avoided.

   2. (2) A counselor may not:

      1. (a) Exploit trust and dependency in relationships with supervisees, employees, research participants, students, or volunteers; or
      2. (b) Accept as clients superiors or subordinates with whom a counselor has administrative, supervisory, or evaluative relationships.

3. C. Multiple Clients.

   1. (1) A counselor shall clarify the unit of treatment in a counselor's written records as:

      1. (a) Individual;
      2. (b) Couple;
      3. (c) Family;
      4. (d) Group; or
      5. (e) Any combination of §C(1)(a)—(d) of this regulation.
   2. (2) A counselor shall identify in the written records individuals present in sessions, but not a part of the unit of treatment.
   3. (3) A counselor shall communicate limitations on confidentiality to all clients.

4. D. Termination and Referral.

   1. (1) Termination may occur if:

      1. (a) Services are no longer requested by a client;
      2. (b) Counseling no longer serves a client's needs or interests;
      3. (c) A counselor is unable to competently and ethically perform duties;
      4. (d) A client does not pay the fees charged; or
      5. (e) Agency or institution limits do not allow further counseling services.

   2. (2) A counselor may terminate a counseling relationship only after:

      1. (a) Securing a client's agreement; or
      2. (b) If a client does not agree to termination, offering an appropriate referral.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§1-212 and 17-205, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: July 10, 1989 (16:13 Md. R. 1422)

Chapter revised effective April 3, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 642)

Regulations .01—.06 repealed and new Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective October 1, 2001 (28:19 Md. R. 1685)