[nfbmi-talk] New Blog Post

Mon Aug 30 10:55:49 UTC 2010

Hi Fred and All,

This is long but important. How did the CRC at the college policy meeting 
and elsewhere abide by their code of ethics? In fact they did not and 
violated it over and over again. These are very well paid and supposedly 
well trained professionals. Yet, it took untrained advocates to know enough 
to follow the Rehab Act.

Here is that code of ethics in full:

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/Desktop/denv4br.doc

Code_Ethics_0105

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

FOR

REHABILITATION COUNSELORS

Adopted in June 2001 by the

Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification

for its Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.

This Code is effective as of January 1, 2002.

Developed and Administered by the:

Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification

300 N. Martingale Road, Suite 460

Schaumburg, IL 60173

(847) 944-1325

http://www.crccertification.com

Table with 3 columns and 25 rows

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS OF ETHICAL PRACTICE

01

SECTION A: THE COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP

01

A.1.

A.2.

A.3.

A.4.

A.5.

A.6.

A.7.

A.8.

A.9.

A.10.

Client Welfare 01

Respecting Diversity 01

Client Rights 01

Personal Needs and Values 02

Sexual Intimacies With Clients 02

Non-Professional Relationships With Clients 03

Multiple Clients 03

Group Work 03

Termination and Referral 03

Computer Technology 04

SECTION B: CONFIDENTIALITY

04

B.1.

B.2.

B.3.

B.4.

B.5.

Right to Privacy 04

Groups and Families 05

Records 05

Consultation 05

Alternative Communication 06

SECTION C: ADVOCACY AND ACCESSIBILITY

06

C.1.

C.2.

Advocacy 06

Accessibility 06

SECTION D: PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

06

D.1.

D.2.

D.3.

D.4.

D.5.

D.6.

D.7.

Professional Competence 06

Legal Standards 07

Advertising and Soliciting Clients 07

Credentials 08

CRC Credential 08

Public Responsibility 08

Responsibility to Other Professionals 09

SECTION E: RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS

09

E.1.

E.2.

E.3.

Relationships With Employers and Employees 09

Consultation 010

Agency and Team Relationships 010

SECTION F: EVALUATION, ASSESSMENT, AND INTERPRETATION

010

F.1.

F.2.

F.3.

F.4.

F.5.

F.6.

F.7.

F.8.

F.9.

F.10

F.11

F.12

Informed Consent 010

Release of Information to Competent Professionals 010

Research and Training 011

Proper Diagnosis of Mental Disorders 011

Competence to Use and Interpret Tests 011

Test Selection 011

Conditions of Test Administration 012

Test Scoring and Interpretation 012

Test Security 012

Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test Results 012

Test Construction 013

Forensic Evaluation 013

SECTION G: TEACHING, TRAINING, AND SUPERVISION

013

G.1.

G.2.

G.3.

Rehabilitation Counselor Educators and Trainers 013

Rehabilitation Counselor Education and Training Programs 013

Students and Supervisees 014

SECTION H: RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION

015

H.1.

H.2.

H.3.

H.4.

Research Responsibilities 015

Informed Consent 015

Reporting Results 016

Publication 017

SECTION I: ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS

017

I.1.

I.2.

Communication 017

Counseling Relationship 017

SECTION J: BUSINESS PRACTICES

018

J.1.

J.2.

J.3.

J.4.

J.5.

Billing 018

Termination 018

Client Records 018

Fees and Bartering 019

Fees for Referral 019

SECTION K: RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES

019

K.1.

K.2.

K.3.

Knowledge of Standards 019

K.2. Suspected Violations 019

K.3. Cooperation with Ethics Committees 020

table end

PREAMBLE

Rehabilitation counselors are committed to facilitating the personal, 
social, and economic independence of individuals with disabilities. In 
fulfilling

this commitment, rehabilitation counselors work with people, programs, 
institutions, and service delivery systems. Rehabilitation counselors 
provide services

within the Scope of Practice for Rehabilitation Counseling (see the Scope of 
Practice document) and recognize that both action and inaction can be 
facilitating

or debilitating. It is essential that rehabilitation counselors demonstrate 
adherence to ethical standards and ensure that the standards are enforced 
vigorously.

The Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, henceforth 
referred to as the Code, is designed to facilitate these goals.

The fundamental spirit of caring and respect with which the Code is written 
is based upon five principles of ethical behavior1. These include autonomy,

beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and fidelity, as defined below:

Autonomy: To honor the right to make individual decisions.

Beneficence: To do good to others.

Nonmaleficence: To do no harm to others.

Justice: To be fair and give equally to others.

Fidelity: To be loyal, honest, and keep promises.

The primary obligation of rehabilitation counselors is to their clients, 
defined in the Code as individuals with disabilities who are receiving 
services

from rehabilitation counselors. Regardless of whether direct client contact 
occurs or whether indirect services are provided, rehabilitation counselors

are obligated to adhere to the Code. At times, rehabilitation counseling 
services may be provided to individuals other than those with disabilities, 
such

as a student population. In all instances, the primary obligation remains 
with the client and adherence to the Code is required.

The basic objective of the Code is to promote public welfare by specifying 
ethical behavior expected of rehabilitation counselors. The Enforceable 
Standards

within the Code are the exacting standards intended to provide guidance in 
specific circumstances and will serve as the basis for processing ethical 
complaints

initiated against certificants.

Rehabilitation counselors who violate the Code are subject to disciplinary 
action. Since the use of the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) 
designation

is a privilege granted by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor 
Certification (CRCC), CRCC reserves unto itself the power to suspend or to 
revoke

the privilege or to approve other penalties for a violation. Disciplinary 
penalties are imposed as warranted by the severity of the offense and its 
attendant

circumstances. All disciplinary actions are undertaken in accordance with 
published procedures and penalties designed to assure the proper enforcement

of the Code within the framework of due process and equal protection under 
the law.

________________________________________

1 Beauchamp, T.L., & Childress, J.F. (1994), 4th Ed. Principles of 
Biomedical Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Kitchener, K.S. (1984). 
Ethics in

Counseling Psychology: Distinctions and Directions. Counseling 
Psychologists, 12 (3), 43-55.

Back to contents

Table with 2 columns and 29 rows

ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS OF ETHICAL PRACTICE

SECTION A: THE COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP

A.1. CLIENT WELFARE

a.

DEFINITION OF CLIENT. The primary obligation of rehabilitation counselors 
will be to their clients, defined as individuals with disabilities who are 
receiving

services from rehabilitation counselors.

b.

REHABILITATION AND COUNSELING PLANS. Rehabilitation counselors will work 
jointly with their clients in devising and revising integrated, individual 
rehabilitation

and counseling plans that contain realistic and mutually agreed upon goals 
and are consistent with abilities and circumstances of clients.

c.

CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT NEEDS. Rehabilitation counselors will work with their 
clients in considering employment that is consistent with the overall 
abilities,

vocational limitations, physical restrictions, psychological limitations, 
general temperament, interest and aptitude patterns, social skills, 
education,

general qualifications, and cultural and other relevant characteristics and 
needs of clients. Rehabilitation counselors will neither place nor 
participate

in placing clients in positions that will result in damaging the interest 
and the welfare of clients, employers, or the public.

d.

AUTONOMY. Rehabilitation counselors will respect the autonomy of the client 
if actions such as involuntary commitment or initiation of guardianship are

taken that diminish client autonomy. The assumption of responsibility for 
decision-making on behalf of the client will be taken only after careful 
deliberation.

The rehabilitation counselor will advocate for client resumption of 
responsibility as quickly as possible.

A.2. RESPECTING DIVERSITY

a.

RESPECTING CULTURE. Rehabilitation counselors will demonstrate respect for 
clients' cultural backgrounds.

b.

INTERVENTIONS. Rehabilitation counselors will develop and adapt 
interventions and services to incorporate consideration of clients' cultural 
perspectives

and recognition of barriers external to clients that may interfere with 
achieving effective rehabilitation outcomes.

c.

NON-DISCRIMINATION. Rehabilitation counselors will not condone or engage in 
discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, 
gender,

race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or socioeconomic status.

A.3. CLIENT RIGHTS

a.

DISCLOSURE TO CLIENTS. When counseling is initiated, and throughout the 
counseling process as necessary, rehabilitation counselors will inform 
clients,

preferably through both written and oral means, of their credentials, the 
purposes, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks, and 
benefits

of services to be performed, and other pertinent information. Rehabilitation 
counselors will take steps to ensure that clients understand the 
implications

of diagnosis, the intended use of tests and reports, fees, and billing 
arrangements. Clients have the right to (1) expect confidentiality and will 
be provided

with an explanation of its limitations, including disclosure to supervisors 
and/or treatment team professionals; (2) obtain clear information about 
their

case records; (3) actively participate in the development and implementation 
of rehabilitation counseling plans; and (4) refuse any recommended services

and be advised of the consequences of such refusal.

b.

THIRD PARTY REFERRAL. Rehabilitation counselors who have direct contact with 
a client at the request of a third party will define the nature of their 
relationships

and role to all rightful, legal parties with whom they have direct contact. 
Direct contact is defined as any written, oral, or electronic communication.

Legal parties may include clients, legal guardians, referring third parties, 
and attorneys actively involved in a matter directly related to 
rehabilitation

services.

c.

INDIRECT SERVICE PROVISION. Rehabilitation counselors who are employed by 
third parties as case consultants or expert witnesses, and who engage in 
communication

with the individual with a disability, will fully disclose to the individual 
with a disability and/or his or her designee their role and limits of their

relationship. Communication includes all forms of written or oral 
interactions regardless of the type of communication tool used. When there 
is no pretense

or intent to provide rehabilitation counseling services directly to the 
individual with a disability, and where there will be no communication, 
disclosure

by the rehabilitation counselor is not required. When serving as case 
consultants or expert witnesses, rehabilitation counselors will provide 
unbiased,

objective opinions. Rehabilitation counselors acting as expert witnesses 
will generate written documentation, either in the form of case notes or a 
report,

as to their involvement and/or conclusions.

d.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE. To the extent possible, rehabilitation counselors will 
offer clients the freedom to choose whether to enter into a counseling 
relationship

and to determine which professional(s) will provide counseling. Restrictions 
that limit choices of clients will be fully explained. Rehabilitation 
counselors

will honor the rights of clients to consent to participate and the right to 
make decisions with regard to rehabilitation services. Rehabilitation 
counselors

will inform clients or the clients' legal guardians of factors that may 
affect decisions to participate in rehabilitation services, and they will 
obtain

written consent or will acknowledge consent in writing after clients or 
legal guardians are fully informed of such factors.

e.

INABILITY TO GIVE CONSENT. When counseling minors or persons unable to give 
voluntary informed consent, rehabilitation counselors will obtain written 
informed

consent from legally responsible parties. Where no legally responsible 
parties exist, rehabilitation counselors will act in the best interest of 
clients.

f.

INVOLVEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT OTHERS. Rehabilitation counselors will attempt to 
enlist family understanding and involvement of family and/or significant 
others

as a positive resource if (or when) appropriate. The client or legal 
guardian's permission will be secured prior to any involvement of family 
and/or significant

others.

A.4. PERSONAL NEEDS AND VALUES

In the counseling relationship, rehabilitation counselors will be aware of 
the intimacy and responsibilities inherent in the counseling relationship, 
maintain

respect for clients, and avoid actions that seek to meet their personal 
needs at the expense of clients.

A.5. SEXUAL INTIMACIES WITH CLIENTS

a.

CURRENT CLIENTS. Rehabilitation counselors will not have any type of sexual 
intimacies with clients and will not counsel persons with whom they have had

a sexual relationship.

b.

FORMER CLIENTS. Rehabilitation counselors will not engage in sexual 
intimacies with former clients within a minimum of 5 years after terminating 
the counseling

relationship. Rehabilitation counselors who engage in such relationship 
after 5 years following termination will have the responsibility to examine 
and

document thoroughly that such relations do not have an exploitative nature, 
based on factors such as duration of counseling, amount of time since 
counseling,

termination circumstances, client's personal history and mental status, 
adverse impact on the client, and actions by the counselor suggesting a plan 
to

initiate a sexual relationship with the client after termination. 
Rehabilitation counselors will seek peer consultation prior to engaging in a 
sexual relationship

with a former client.

A.6. NON-PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS

a.

POTENTIAL FOR HARM. Rehabilitation counselors will be aware of their 
influential positions with respect to clients, and will avoid exploiting the 
trust

and dependency of clients. Rehabilitation counselors will make every effort 
to avoid non-professional relationships with clients that could impair 
professional

judgment or increase the risk of harm to clients. (Examples of such 
relationships include, but are not limited to, familial, social, financial, 
business,

close personal relationships with clients, or volunteer or paid work within 
an office in which the client is actively receiving services.) When a 
non-professional

relationship cannot be avoided, rehabilitation counselors will take 
appropriate professional precautions such as informed consent, consultation, 
supervision,

and documentation to ensure that judgment is not impaired and no 
exploitation occurs.

b.

SUPERIOR/SUBORDINATE RELATIONSHIPS. Rehabilitation counselors will not 
accept as clients, superiors or subordinates with whom they have 
administrative,

supervisory, or evaluative relationships.

A.7. MULTIPLE CLIENTS

When rehabilitation counselors agree to provide counseling services to two 
or more persons who have a relationship (such as husband and wife, or 
parents

and children), rehabilitation counselors will clarify at the outset, which 
person or persons are clients and the nature of the relationships they will

have with each involved person. If it becomes apparent that rehabilitation 
counselors may be called upon to perform potentially conflicting roles, they

will clarify, adjust, or withdraw from such roles appropriately.

table end

Table with 2 columns and 12 rows

A.8. GROUP WORK

a.

SCREENING. Rehabilitation counselors will screen prospective group 
counseling/therapy participants. To the extent possible, rehabilitation 
counselors will

select members whose needs and goals are compatible with goals of the group, 
who will not impede the group process, and whose well being will not be 
jeopardized

by the group experience.

b.

PROTECTING CLIENTS. In a group setting, rehabilitation counselors will take 
reasonable precautions to protect clients from physical or psychological 
trauma.

A.9. TERMINATION AND REFERRAL

a.

ABANDONMENT PROHIBITED. Rehabilitation counselors will not abandon or 
neglect clients in counseling. Rehabilitation counselors will assist in 
making appropriate

arrangements for the continuation of treatment, when necessary, during 
interruptions such as vacations, and following termination.

b.

INABILITY TO ASSIST CLIENTS. If rehabilitation counselors determine an 
inability to be of professional assistance to clients, they will avoid 
entering or

immediately terminate a counseling relationship.

c.

APPROPRIATE TERMINATION. Rehabilitation counselors will terminate a 
counseling relationship, securing client agreement when possible, when it is 
reasonably

clear that the client is no longer benefiting, when services are no longer 
required, when counseling no longer serves the client's needs or interests,

or when there is failure to pay fees according to Section J of this 
document.

d.

REFERRAL UPON TERMINATION. Rehabilitation counselors will be knowledgeable 
about referral resources and suggest appropriate alternatives. If clients 
decline

the suggested referral, rehabilitation counselors have the right to 
discontinue the relationship.

A.10. COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

a.

USE OF COMPUTERS. When computer applications are used in counseling 
services, rehabilitation counselors will ensure that (1) the client is 
intellectually,

emotionally, and physically capable of using the computer application; (2) 
the computer application is appropriate for the needs of the client; (3) the

client understands the purpose and operation of the computer applications; 
and (4) a follow-up of client use of a computer application is provided to 
correct

possible misconceptions, discover inappropriate use, and assess subsequent 
needs.

b.

EXPLANATION OF LIMITATIONS. Rehabilitation counselors will ensure that 
clients are provided information as a part of the counseling relationship 
that adequately

explains the limitations of computer technology.

c.

ACCESS TO COMPUTER APPLICATIONS. Rehabilitation counselors will provide 
reasonable access to computer applications in counseling services.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 26 rows

SECTION B: CONFIDENTIALITY

B.1. RIGHT TO PRIVACY

a.

RESPECT FOR PRIVACY. Rehabilitation counselors will respect clients' rights 
to privacy and will avoid illegal and unwarranted disclosures of 
confidential

information.

b.

CLIENT WAIVER. Rehabilitation counselors will respect the right of the 
client or his/her legally recognized representative to waive the right to 
privacy.

c.

EXCEPTIONS. When disclosure is required to prevent clear and imminent danger 
to the client or others, or when legal requirements demand that confidential

information be revealed, the general requirement that rehabilitation 
counselors keep information confidential will not apply. Rehabilitation 
counselors

will consult with other professionals when in doubt as to the validity of an 
exception.

d.

CONTAGIOUS, FATAL DISEASES. Rehabilitation counselors will become aware of 
the legal requirements for disclosure of contagious and fatal diseases in 
their

jurisdiction. In jurisdictions where allowable, a rehabilitation counselor 
who receives information will confirm that a client has a disease known to 
be

communicable and/or fatal. If allowable by law, the rehabilitation counselor 
will disclose this information to a third party, who by his or her 
relationship

with the client is at high risk of contracting the disease. Prior to 
disclosure, the rehabilitation counselor will ascertain that the client has 
not already

informed the third party about his or her disease and that the client is not 
intending to inform the third party in the immediate future.

e.

COURT-ORDERED DISCLOSURE. When court ordered to release confidential 
information without a client's permission, rehabilitation counselors will 
request to

the court that the disclosure not be required due to potential harm to the 
client or counseling relationship.

f.

MINIMAL DISCLOSURE. When circumstances require the disclosure of 
confidential information, rehabilitation counselors will endeavor to reveal 
only essential

information. To the extent possible, clients will be informed before 
confidential information is disclosed.

g.

EXPLANATION OF LIMITATIONS. When counseling is initiated and throughout the 
counseling process as necessary, rehabilitation counselors will inform 
clients

of the limitations of confidentiality and will identify foreseeable 
situations in which confidentiality must be breached.

h.

WORK ENVIRONMENT. Rehabilitation counselors will make every effort to ensure 
that a confidential work environment exists and that subordinates including

employees, supervisees, clerical assistants, and volunteers maintain the 
privacy and confidentiality of clients.

i.

TREATMENT TEAMS. If client treatment will involve the sharing of client 
information among treatment team members, the client will be advised of this 
fact

and will be informed of the team's existence and composition.

j

CLIENT ASSISTANTS. When a client is accompanied by an individual providing 
assistance to the client (e.g., interpreter, personal care assistant, etc.),

rehabilitation counselors will ensure that the assistant is apprised of the 
need to maintain confidentiality.

B.2. GROUPS AND FAMILIES

a.

GROUP WORK. In group work, rehabilitation counselors will clearly define 
confidentiality and the parameters for the specific group being entered, 
explain

its importance, and discuss the difficulties related to confidentiality 
involved in group work. The fact that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed 
will

be clearly communicated to group members.

b.

FAMILY COUNSELING. In family counseling, unless otherwise directed by law, 
information about one family member will not be disclosed to another member 
without

permission. Rehabilitation counselors will protect the privacy rights of 
each family member.

B.3. RECORDS

a.

REQUIREMENT OF RECORDS. Rehabilitation counselors will maintain records 
necessary for rendering professional services to their clients and as 
required by

laws, regulations, or agency or institution procedures.

b.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. Rehabilitation counselors will be responsible 
for securing the safety and confidentiality of any counseling records they 
create,

maintain, transfer, or destroy whether the records are written, taped, 
computerized, or stored in any other medium.

c.

PERMISSION TO RECORD OR OBSERVE. Rehabilitation counselors will obtain and 
document written or recorded permission from clients prior to electronically

recording or observing sessions. When counseling clients who are minors or 
individuals who are unable to give voluntary, informed consent, written or 
recorded

permission of guardians must be obtained.

d.

CLIENT ACCESS. Rehabilitation counselors will recognize that counseling 
records are kept for the benefit of clients, and therefore provide access to 
records

and copies of records when requested by clients, unless prohibited by law. 
In instances where the records contain information that may be sensitive or

detrimental to the client, the rehabilitation counselor has a responsibility 
to adequately interpret such information to the client. In situations 
involving

multiple clients, access to records will be limited to those parts of 
records that do not include confidential information related to another 
client.

e.

DISCLOSURE OR TRANSFER. Rehabilitation counselors will obtain written 
permission from clients to disclose or transfer records to legitimate third 
parties

unless exceptions to confidentiality exist as listed in Section B.1.

B.4. CONSULTATION

a.

RESPECT FOR PRIVACY. Information obtained in a consulting relationship will 
be discussed for professional purposes only with persons clearly concerned 
with

the case. Written and oral reports will present data germane to the purposes 
of the consultation, and every effort will be made to protect client 
identity

and to avoid undue invasion of privacy.

b.

COOPERATING AGENCIES. Before sharing information, rehabilitation counselors 
will make efforts to ensure that there are defined policies in other 
agencies

serving the counselor's clients that effectively protect the confidentiality 
of information.

B.5. ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION

Rehabilitation counselors will make every effort to ensure that methods of 
exchanging information that utilize alternative means of communication 
(i.e.,

facsimile, cellular telephone, computer, or videoconferencing) will be 
conducted in such a manner that ensures protection of client 
confidentiality. If

confidentiality cannot be ensured, client or guardian permission must be 
obtained.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 9 rows

SECTION C: ADVOCACY AND ACCESSIBILITY

C.1. ADVOCACY

a.

ATTITUDINAL BARRIERS. Rehabilitation counselors will strive to eliminate 
attitudinal barriers, including stereotyping and discrimination, toward 
individuals

with disabilities and to increase their own awareness and sensitivity to 
such individuals.

b.

ADVOCACY WITH COOPERATING AGENCIES. Rehabilitation counselors will remain 
aware of actions taken by cooperating agencies on behalf of their clients 
and

will act as advocates of such clients to ensure effective service delivery.

c.

EMPOWERMENT. Rehabilitation counselors will provide the client with 
appropriate information and will support their efforts at self-advocacy both 
on an individual

and an organizational level.

C.2. ACCESSIBILITY

a.

COUNSELING PRACTICE. Rehabilitation counselors will demonstrate, in their 
practice, an appreciation of the need to provide necessary accommodations, 
including

accessible facilities and services, to individuals with disabilities.

b.

BARRIERS TO ACCESS. Rehabilitation counselors will identify physical, 
communication, and transportation barriers to clients and will communicate 
information

on barriers to public and private authorities to facilitate removal of 
barriers to access

c.

REFERRAL ACCESSIBILITY. Rehabilitation counselors, as advocates for 
individuals with disabilities, will ensure, prior to referring clients to 
programs,

facilities, or employment settings, that they are appropriately accessible.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 39 rows

SECTION D: PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

D.1. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE

a.

BOUNDARIES OF COMPETENCE. Rehabilitation counselors will practice only 
within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, 
training, supervised

experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate 
professional experience. Rehabilitation counselors will demonstrate a 
commitment

to gain knowledge, personal awareness, sensitivity, and skills pertinent to 
working with a diverse client population. Rehabilitation counselors will not

misrepresent their role or competence to clients.

b.

REFERRAL. Rehabilitation counselors will refer clients to other specialists 
as the needs of the clients dictate.

c.

NEW SPECIALTY AREAS OF PRACTICE. Rehabilitation counselors will practice in 
specialty areas new to them only after appropriate education, training, and

supervised experience. While developing skills in new specialty areas, 
rehabilitation counselors will take steps to ensure the competence of their 
work

and to protect clients from possible harm.

d.

RESOURCES. Rehabilitation counselors will ensure that the resources used or 
accessed in counseling are credible and valid (e.g., web link, books used in

Bibliotherapy, etc.).

e.

QUALIFIED FOR EMPLOYMENT. Rehabilitation counselors will accept employment 
only for positions for which they are qualified by education, training, 
supervised

experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate 
professional experience. Rehabilitation counselors will hire only 
individuals

who are qualified and competent for professional rehabilitation counseling 
positions.

f.

MONITOR EFFECTIVENESS. Rehabilitation counselors will take reasonable steps 
to seek peer supervision to evaluate their efficacy as rehabilitation 
counselors.

g.

ETHICAL ISSUES CONSULTATION. Rehabilitation counselors will take reasonable 
steps to consult with other rehabilitation counselors or related 
professionals

when they have questions regarding their ethical obligations or professional 
practice.

h.

CONTINUING EDUCATION. Rehabilitation counselors will engage in continuing 
education to maintain a reasonable level of awareness of current scientific 
and

professional information in their fields of activity. They will take steps 
to maintain competence in the skills they use, will be open to new 
techniques,

and will develop and maintain competence for practice with the diverse 
and/or special populations with whom they work.

i.

IMPAIRMENT. Rehabilitation counselors will refrain from offering or 
rendering professional services when their physical, mental, or emotional 
problems are

likely to harm the client or others. They will seek assistance for problems, 
and, if necessary, will limit, suspend, or terminate their professional 
responsibilities.

D.2. LEGAL STANDARDS

a.

LEGAL VERSUS ETHICAL. Rehabilitation counselors will obey the laws and 
statutes of the legal jurisdiction in which they practice unless there is a 
conflict

with the Code, in which case they should seek immediate consultation and 
advice.

b.

LEGAL LIMITATIONS. Rehabilitation counselors will be familiar with and 
observe the legal limitations of the services they offer to clients. They 
will discuss

these limitations as well as all benefits available to clients they serve in 
order to facilitate open, honest communication and avoid unrealistic 
expectations.

D.3. ADVERTISING AND SOLICITING CLIENTS

a.

ACCURATE ADVERTISING. Advertising by rehabilitation counselors shall not be 
restricted. Rehabilitation counselors will advertise or will represent their

services to the public by identifying their credentials in an accurate 
manner that is not false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent. 
Rehabilitation counselors

will only advertise the highest degree earned which is in counseling or a 
closely related field from a college or university that was accredited when 
the

degree was awarded by one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by 
the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

b.

TESTIMONIALS. Rehabilitation counselors who use testimonials will not 
solicit them from clients or other persons who, because of their particular 
circumstances,

may be vulnerable to undue influence. Full disclosure of uses and the 
informed consent of the client or guardian will be obtained. Use of 
testimonials

will be for a specified and agreed upon period of time.

c.

STATEMENTS BY OTHERS. Rehabilitation counselors will make reasonable efforts 
to ensure that statements made by others about them or the profession of 
rehabilitation

counseling are accurate.

d.

RECRUITING THROUGH EMPLOYMENT. Employed rehabilitation counselors will not 
use their institutional affiliations or relationship with their employers to

recruit clients, supervisees, or consultees for their separate private 
practices.

e.

PRODUCTS AND TRAINING ADVERTISEMENTS. Rehabilitation counselors who develop 
products related to their profession or conduct workshops or training events

will ensure that the advertisements concerning these products or events are 
accurate and disclose adequate information for consumers to make informed 
choices.

f.

PROMOTING TO THOSE SERVED. Rehabilitation counselors will not use 
counseling, teaching, training, or supervisory relationships to promote 
their products

or training events in a manner that is deceptive or would exert undue 
influence on individuals who may be vulnerable. Rehabilitation counselors 
may adopt

textbooks they have authored for instructional purposes.

D.4. CREDENTIALS

a.

CREDENTIALS CLAIMED. Rehabilitation counselors will claim or will imply only 
professional credentials possessed and are responsible for correcting any 
known

misrepresentations of their credentials by others. Professional credentials 
include graduate degrees in counseling or closely related fields, 
accreditation

of graduate programs, national voluntary certifications, government-issued 
certifications or licenses, or any other credential that might indicate to 
the

public specialized knowledge or expertise in counseling.

b.

CREDENTIAL GUIDELINES. Rehabilitation counselors will follow the guidelines 
for use of credentials that have been established by the entities that issue

the credentials.

c.

MISREPRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS. Rehabilitation counselors will not 
attribute more to their credentials than the credentials represent, and will 
not imply

that other rehabilitation counselors are not qualified because they do not 
possess certain credentials.

d.

DOCTORAL DEGREES FROM OTHER FIELDS. Rehabilitation counselors who hold a 
master's degree in counseling or a closely related field, but hold a 
doctoral degree

from other than counseling or a closely related field, will not use the 
title "Dr." in their practices and will not announce to the public in 
relation

to their practice or status as a rehabilitation counselor that they hold a 
doctorate.

D.5. CRC CREDENTIAL

a.

ACTING ON BEHALF OF CRCC. Certified Rehabilitation Counselors will not 
write, speak, nor act in ways that lead others to believe the counselor is 
officially

representing CRCC unless the Commission has granted permission in writing.

b.

SUPPORT OF CANDIDATES. Certified Rehabilitation Counselors will not initiate 
or support the candidacy of an individual for certification by CRCC if the

individual is known to engage in professional practices that violate the 
Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors.

D.6. PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY

a.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT. Rehabilitation counselors will not engage in sexual 
harassment. Sexual harassment is defined as sexual solicitation, physical 
advances,

or verbal or nonverbal conduct that is sexual in nature, that occurs in 
connection with professional activities or roles, and that either (1) the 
rehabilitation

counselor knows or is told the act is unwelcome, offensive, or creates a 
hostile workplace environment; or (2) is sufficiently severe or intense to 
be

perceived as harassment to a reasonable person within the context in which 
it occurs. Sexual harassment may consist of a single intense or severe act 
or

multiple persistent or pervasive acts.

b.

REPORTS TO THIRD PARTIES. Rehabilitation counselors will be accurate, 
timely, and objective in reporting their professional activities and 
opinions to appropriate

third parties including courts, health insurance companies, those who are 
the recipients of evaluation reports, and others.

c.

MEDIA PRESENTATIONS. When rehabilitation counselors provide advice or 
comment by means of public lectures, demonstrations, radio or television 
programs,

prerecorded tapes, printed articles, mailed material, or other media, they 
will take reasonable precautions to ensure that (1) the statements are based

on appropriate professional counseling literature and practice; (2) the 
statements are otherwise consistent with the Code of Professional Ethics for 
Rehabilitation

Counselors; and (3) the recipients of the information are not encouraged to 
infer that a professional rehabilitation counseling relationship has been 
established.

d.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Rehabilitation counselors will not use their 
professional positions to seek or receive unjustified personal gains, sexual 
favors,

unfair advantage, or unearned goods or services.

e.

DISHONESTY. Rehabilitation counselors will not engage in any act or omission 
of a dishonest, deceitful or fraudulent nature in the conduct of their 
professional

activities.

D.7. RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS

a.

DISPARAGING COMMENTS. Rehabilitation counselors will not discuss in a 
disparaging way the competency of other professionals or agencies, or the 
findings

made, the methods used, or the quality of rehabilitation plans.

b.

PERSONAL PUBLIC STATEMENTS. When making personal statements in a public 
context, rehabilitation counselors will clarify that they are speaking from 
their

personal perspectives and that they are not speaking on behalf of all 
rehabilitation counselors or the profession.

c.

CLIENTS SERVED BY OTHERS. When rehabilitation counselors learn that their 
clients have an ongoing professional relationship with another 
rehabilitation

or treating professional, they will request release from clients to inform 
the other professionals and strive to establish positive and collaborative 
professional

relationships. File reviews, second-opinion services, and other indirect 
services are not considered ongoing professional services.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 15 rows

SECTION E: RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS

E.1. RELATIONSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES

a.

NEGATIVE CONDITIONS. Rehabilitation counselors will alert their employers to 
conditions that may be potentially disruptive or damaging to the counselor's

professional responsibilities or that may limit their effectiveness.

b.

EVALUATION. Rehabilitation counselors will submit regularly to professional 
review and evaluation by their supervisor or the appropriate representative

of the employer.

c.

DISCRIMINATION. Rehabilitation counselors, as either employers or employees, 
will engage in fair practices with regard to hiring, promotion, or training.

d.

EXPLOITATIVE RELATIONSHIPS. Rehabilitation counselors will not engage in 
exploitative relationships with individuals over whom they have supervisory, 
evaluative,

or instructional control or authority.

e.

EMPLOYER POLICIES. In those instances where rehabilitation counselors are 
critical of policies, they will attempt to affect change through 
constructive

action within the organization. Where such change cannot be affected, 
rehabilitation counselors will take appropriate further action. Such action 
may include

referral to appropriate certification, accreditation, or state licensure 
organizations or termination of employment.

E.2. CONSULTATION

a.

CONSULTATION AS AN OPTION. Rehabilitation counselors may choose to consult 
with professionally competent persons about their clients. In choosing 
consultants,

rehabilitation counselors will avoid placing the consultant in a conflict of 
interest situation that will preclude the consultant from being a proper 
party

to the counselor's efforts to help the client. If rehabilitation counselors 
are engaged in a work setting that compromises this consultation standard,

they will consult with other professionals whenever possible to consider 
justifiable alternatives.

b.

CONSULTANT COMPETENCY. Rehabilitation counselors will be reasonably certain 
that they have, or the organization represented has, the necessary 
competencies

and resources for giving the kind of consulting services needed and that 
appropriate referral resources are available.

E.3. AGENCY AND TEAM RELATIONSHIPS

a.

CLIENT AS A TEAM MEMBER. Rehabilitation counselors will ensure that clients 
and/or their legally recognized representative are afforded the opportunity

for full participation in their own treatment team.

b.

COMMUNICATION. Rehabilitation counselors will ensure that there is fair 
mutual understanding of the rehabilitation plan by all agencies cooperating 
in the

rehabilitation of clients and that any rehabilitation plan is developed with 
such mutual understanding.

c.

DISSENT. Rehabilitation counselors will abide by and help to implement team 
decisions in formulating rehabilitation plans and procedures, even when not

personally agreeing with such decisions, unless these decisions breach the 
Code.

d.

REPORTS. Rehabilitation counselors will attempt to secure from other 
specialists appropriate reports and evaluations, when such reports are 
essential for

rehabilitation planning and/or service delivery.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 41 rows

SECTION F: EVALUATION, ASSESSMENT, AND INTERPRETATION

F.1. INFORMED CONSENT

a.

EXPLANATION TO CLIENTS. Prior to assessment, rehabilitation counselors will 
explain the nature and purposes of assessment and the specific use of 
results

in language the client (or other legally authorized person on behalf of the 
client) can understand. Regardless of whether scoring and interpretation are

completed by rehabilitation counselors, by assistants, or by computer or 
other outside services, rehabilitation counselors will take reasonable steps 
to

ensure that appropriate explanations are given to the client.

b.

RECIPIENTS OF RESULTS. The client's welfare, explicit understanding, and 
prior agreement will determine the recipients of test results. 
Rehabilitation counselors

will include accurate and appropriate interpretations with any release of 
test results.

F.2. RELEASE OF INFORMATION TO COMPETENT PROFESSIONALS

a.

MISUSE OF RESULTS. Rehabilitation counselors will not misuse assessment 
results, including test results and interpretations, and will take 
reasonable steps

to prevent the misuse of such by others.

b.

RELEASE OF RAW DATA. Rehabilitation counselors will ordinarily release data 
(e.g., protocols, counseling or interview notes, or questionnaires) in which

the client is identified only with the consent of the client or the client's 
legal representative. Such data will be released only to persons recognized

by rehabilitation counselors as competent to interpret the data.

F.3. RESEARCH AND TRAINING

a.

DATA DISGUISE REQUIRED. Use of data derived from counseling relationships 
for purposes of training, research, or publication will be confined to 
content

that is disguised to ensure the anonymity of the individuals involved.

b.

AGREEMENT FOR IDENTIFICATION. Identification of a client in a presentation 
or publication will be permissible only when the client has agreed in 
writing

to its presentation or publication.

F.4. PROPER DIAGNOSIS OF MENTAL DISORDERS

a.

PROPER DIAGNOSIS. Rehabilitation counselors qualified to provide proper 
diagnosis of mental disorders will take special care when doing so. 
Assessment techniques

(including personal interview) used to determine client care (e.g., locus of 
treatment, type of treatment, or recommended follow-up) will be carefully

selected and appropriately used.

b.

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY. Disability, socioeconomic, and cultural experience of 
clients will be considered when diagnosing mental disorders.

F.5. COMPETENCE TO USE AND INTERPRET TESTS

a.

LIMITS OF COMPETENCE. Rehabilitation counselors will recognize the limits of 
their competence and perform only those testing and assessment services for

which they have been trained. They will be familiar with reliability, 
validity, related standardization, error of measurement, and proper 
application of

any technique utilized. Rehabilitation counselors using computer-based test 
interpretations will be trained in the construct being measured and the 
specific

instrument being used prior to using this type of computer application. 
Rehabilitation counselors will take reasonable measures to ensure the proper 
use

of psychological assessment techniques by persons under their supervision.

b.

APPROPRIATE USE. Rehabilitation counselors will be responsible for the 
appropriate application, scoring, interpretation, and use of assessment 
instruments,

whether they score and interpret such tests themselves or use computerized 
or other services.

c.

DECISIONS BASED ON RESULTS. Rehabilitation counselors will be responsible 
for decisions involving individuals or policies that are based on assessment 
results

and will have a thorough understanding of educational and psychological 
measurement, including validation criteria, test research, and guidelines 
for test

development and use.

d.

ACCURATE INFORMATION. Rehabilitation counselors will provide accurate 
information and avoid false claims or misconceptions when making statements 
about

assessment instruments or techniques. Special efforts will be made to avoid 
utilizing test results to make inappropriate diagnoses or inferences.

F.6. TEST SELECTION

a.

APPROPRIATENESS OF INSTRUMENTS. Rehabilitation counselors will carefully 
consider the validity, reliability, psychometric limitations, and 
appropriateness

of instruments when selecting tests for use in a given situation or with a 
particular client.

b.

REFERRAL INFORMATION. If a client is referred to a third party provider for 
testing, the rehabilitation counselor will provide specific referral 
questions

and sufficient objective data about the client so as to ensure that 
appropriate test instruments are utilized.

c.

CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS. Rehabilitation counselors will be cautious 
when selecting tests for disability or culturally diverse populations to 
avoid

inappropriateness of testing that may be outside of socialized behavioral or 
cognitive patterns or functional abilities.

d.

NORM DIVERGENCE. Rehabilitation counselors will be cautious in using 
assessment techniques, making evaluations, and interpreting the performance 
of populations

not represented in the norm group on which an instrument was standardized 
and will disclose such information.

F.7. CONDITIONS OF TEST ADMINISTRATION

a.

ADMINISTRATION CONDITIONS. Rehabilitation counselors will administer tests 
under the same conditions that were established in the test standardization.

When tests are not administered under standard conditions, as may be 
necessary to accommodate modifications for clients with disabilities or when 
unusual

behavior or irregularities occur during the testing session, those 
conditions will be noted in interpretation.

b.

COMPUTER ADMINISTRATION. When a computer or other electronic methods are 
used for test administration, rehabilitation counselors will be responsible 
for

ensuring that programs function properly to provide clients with accurate 
results.

c.

UNSUPERVISED TEST-TAKING. Rehabilitation counselors will not permit 
unsupervised or inadequately supervised use of tests or assessments unless 
the tests

or assessments are designed, intended, and validated for self-administration 
and/or scoring.

F.8. TEST SCORING AND INTERPRETATION

a.

REPORTING RESERVATIONS. In reporting assessment results, rehabilitation 
counselors will indicate any reservations that exist regarding validity or 
reliability

because of the circumstances of the assessment or the inappropriateness of 
the norms for the person tested.

b.

DIVERSITY IN TESTING. Rehabilitation counselors will place test results and 
their interpretations in proper perspective considering other relevant 
factors

including age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, 
religion, sexual orientation, marital status, and socioeconomic status.

c.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS. Rehabilitation counselors will exercise caution when 
interpreting the results of research instruments possessing insufficient 
technical

data to support respondent results. The specific purposes for the use of 
such instruments will be stated explicitly to the examinee.

d.

TESTING SERVICES. Rehabilitation counselors who provide test scoring and 
test interpretation services to support the assessment process will confirm 
the

validity of such interpretations. The interpretation of assessment data will 
be related to the particular goals of evaluation. Rehabilitation counselors

will accurately describe the purpose, norms, validity, reliability, and 
applications of the procedures and any special qualifications applicable to 
their

use.

e.

AUTOMATED TESTING SERVICES. The public offering of an automated test 
interpretation service will be considered a professional-to-professional 
consultation.

The formal responsibility of the consultant will be to the consultee, but 
the ultimate and overriding responsibility will be to the client.

F.9. TEST SECURITY

Rehabilitation counselors will maintain the integrity and security of tests 
and other assessment techniques consistent with legal and contractual 
obligations.

Rehabilitation counselors will not appropriate, reproduce, or modify 
published tests or parts thereof without acknowledgment and permission from 
the publisher.

F.10. OBSOLETE TESTS AND OUTDATED TEST RESULTS

Rehabilitation counselors will not use data or test results that are 
obsolete or outdated for the current purpose. Rehabilitation counselors will 
make every

effort to prevent the misuse of obsolete measures and test data by others.

F.11. TEST CONSTRUCTION

Rehabilitation counselors will use established scientific procedures, 
relevant standards, and current professional knowledge for test design in 
the development,

publication, and utilization of educational and psychological assessment 
techniques.

F.12. FORENSIC EVALUATION

When providing forensic evaluations, the primary obligation of 
rehabilitation counselors will be to produce objective findings that can be 
substantiated

based on information and techniques appropriate to the evaluation, which may 
include examination of the individual with a disability and/or review of 
records.

Rehabilitation counselors will define the limits of their reports or 
testimony, especially when an examination of the individual with a 
disability has

not been conducted.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 21 rows

SECTION G: TEACHING, TRAINING, AND SUPERVISION

G.1. REHABILITATION COUNSELOR EDUCATORS AND TRAINERS

a.

RELATIONSHIP BOUNDARIES WITH STUDENTS AND SUPERVISEES. Rehabilitation 
counselors will clearly define and maintain ethical, professional, and 
social relationship

boundaries with their students and supervisees. They will be aware of the 
differential in power that exists and the student or supervisee's possible 
incomprehension

of that power differential. Rehabilitation counselors will explain to 
students and supervisees the potential for the relationship to become 
exploitive.

b.

SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS. Rehabilitation counselors will not engage in sexual 
relationships with students or supervisees and will not subject them to 
sexual

harassment.

c.

SUPERVISION PREPARATION. Rehabilitation counselors will supervise only 
within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, 
training, supervised

experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate 
professional experience. Rehabilitation counselors who are doctoral students 
serving

as practicum or internship supervisors will be adequately prepared and 
supervised by the training program.

d.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERVICES TO CLIENTS. Rehabilitation counselors who 
supervise the rehabilitation counseling services of others will perform 
direct supervision

sufficient to ensure that rehabilitation counseling services provided to 
clients are adequate and do not cause harm to the client.

e.

ENDORSEMENT. Rehabilitation counselors will not endorse students or 
supervisees for certification, licensure, employment, or completion of an 
academic or

training program if they believe students or supervisees are not qualified 
for the endorsement. Rehabilitation counselors will take reasonable steps to

assist students or supervisees who are not qualified for endorsement to 
become qualified.

G.2. REHABILITATION COUNSELOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

a.

ORIENTATION. Prior to admission, rehabilitation counselor educators will 
orient prospective students to the counselor education or training program's 
expectations,

including but not limited to the following: (1) the type and level of skill 
acquisition required for successful completion of the training, (2) subject

matter to be covered, (3) basis for evaluation, (4) training components that 
encourage self-growth or self-disclosure as part of the training process,

(5) the type of supervision settings and requirements of the sites for 
required clinical field experiences, (6) student evaluation and dismissal 
policies

and procedures, and (7) up-to-date employment prospects for graduates.

b.

EVALUATION. Rehabilitation counselor educators will clearly state, in 
advance of training, to students and internship supervisees, the levels of 
competency

expected, appraisal methods, and timing of evaluations for both didactic and 
experiential components. Rehabilitation counselor educators will provide 
students

and internship supervisees with periodic performance appraisal and 
evaluation feedback throughout the training program.

c.

TEACHING ETHICS. Rehabilitation counselor educators will teach students and 
internship supervisees the ethical responsibilities and standards of the 
profession

and the students' and supervisees' professional ethical responsibilities.

d.

PEER RELATIONSHIPS. When students are assigned to lead counseling groups or 
provide clinical supervision for their peers, rehabilitation counselor 
educators

will take steps to ensure that students placed in these roles do not have 
personal or adverse relationships with peers and that they understand they 
have

the same ethical obligations as counselor educators, trainers, and 
supervisors. Rehabilitation counselor educators will make every effort to 
ensure that

the rights of peers are not compromised when students are assigned to lead 
counseling groups or provide clinical supervision.

e.

VARIED THEORETICAL POSITIONS. Rehabilitation counselor educators will 
present varied theoretical positions so that students may make comparisons 
and have

opportunities to develop their own positions. Rehabilitation counselor 
educators will provide information concerning the scientific bases of 
professional

practice.

f.

FIELD PLACEMENTS. Rehabilitation counselor educators will develop clear 
policies within their training program regarding field placement and other 
clinical

experiences. Rehabilitation counselor educators will provide clearly stated 
roles and responsibilities for the student and the site supervisor. 
Rehabilitation

counselor educators will confirm that site supervisors will be qualified to 
provide supervision and are informed of their professional and ethical 
responsibilities

in this role. Rehabilitation counselor educators will not accept any form of 
professional services, fees, commissions, reimbursement, or remuneration 
from

a site for student placement.

g.

DIVERSITY IN PROGRAMS. Rehabilitation counselor educators will respond to 
their institution and program's recruitment and retention needs for training 
program

administrators, faculty, and students with diverse backgrounds and special 
needs.

G.3. STUDENTS AND SUPERVISEES

a.

LIMITATIONS. Rehabilitation counselors, through ongoing evaluation and 
appraisal, will be aware of the academic and personal limitations of 
students and

supervisees that might impede performance. Rehabilitation counselors will 
assist students and supervisees in securing remedial assistance when needed,

and will dismiss students or supervisees who are unable to provide competent 
service due to academic or personal limitations. Rehabilitation counselors

will seek professional consultation and document their decision to dismiss 
or to refer students or supervisees for assistance. Rehabilitation 
counselors

will advise students and supervisees of appeals processes as appropriate.

b.

SELF-GROWTH EXPERIENCES. Rehabilitation counselor educators, when designing 
training groups or other experiences conducted by the rehabilitation 
counselor

educators themselves, will inform students of the potential risks of 
self-disclosure. Rehabilitation counselor educators will respect the privacy 
of students

by not requiring self-disclosure that could reasonably be expected to be 
harmful and student evaluation criteria will not include the level of the 
student's

self-disclosure.

c.

COUNSELING FOR STUDENTS AND SUPERVISEES. If students or supervisees request 
counseling, supervisors or rehabilitation counselor educators will provide 
them

with acceptable referrals. Supervisors or rehabilitation counselor educators 
will not serve as rehabilitation counselors to students or supervisees over

whom they hold administrative, teaching, or evaluative roles unless this is 
a brief role associated with a training experience.

d.

CLIENTS OF STUDENTS AND SUPERVISEES. Rehabilitation counselors will make 
every effort to ensure that clients are aware of the services rendered and 
the

qualifications of the students and supervisees rendering those services. 
Clients will receive professional disclosure information and will be 
informed

of the limits of confidentiality. Client permission will be obtained in 
order for the students and supervisees to use any information concerning the 
counseling

relationship in the training process.

e.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Rehabilitation counselors who employ or supervise 
individuals will provide appropriate working conditions, timely evaluations,

constructive consultations, and suitable opportunities for experience and 
training.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 30 rows

SECTION H: RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION

H.1. RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES

a.

USE OF HUMAN PARTICIPANTS. Rehabilitation counselors will plan, design, 
conduct, and report research in a manner that reflects cultural sensitivity, 
is

culturally appropriate, and is consistent with pertinent ethical principles, 
federal and state/provincial laws, host institutional regulations, and 
scientific

standards governing research with human participants.

b.

DEVIATION FROM STANDARD PRACTICES. Rehabilitation counselors will seek 
consultation and observe stringent safeguards to protect the rights of 
research participants

when a research problem suggests a deviation from standard acceptable 
practices.

c.

PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID INJURY. Rehabilitation counselors who conduct research 
with human participants will be responsible for the participants' welfare 
throughout

the research and will take reasonable precautions to avoid causing injurious 
psychological, physical, or social effects to their participants.

d.

PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER RESPONSIBILITY. While ultimate responsibility for 
ethical research practice lies with the principal researcher, rehabilitation 
counselors

involved in the research activities will share ethical obligations and bear 
full responsibility for their own actions.

e.

MINIMAL INTERFERENCE. Rehabilitation counselors will take precautions to 
avoid causing disruptions in participants' lives due to participation in 
research.

f.

DIVERSITY. Rehabilitation counselors will be sensitive to diversity and 
research issues with culturally diverse populations and they will seek 
consultation

when appropriate.

H.2. INFORMED CONSENT

a.

TOPICS DISCLOSED. In obtaining informed consent for research, rehabilitation 
counselors will use language that is understandable to research participants

and that (1) accurately explains the purpose and procedures to be followed; 
(2) identifies any procedures that are experimental or relatively untried;

(3) describes the attendant discomforts and risks; (4) describes the 
benefits or changes in individuals or organizations that might reasonably be 
expected;

(5) discloses appropriate alternative procedures that would be advantageous 
for participants; (6) offers to answer any inquiries concerning the 
procedures;

(7) describes any limitations of confidentiality; and (8) instructs that 
participants are free to withdraw their consent and to discontinue 
participation

in the project at any time.

b.

DECEPTION. Rehabilitation counselors will not conduct research involving 
deception unless alternative procedures are not feasible and the prospective 
value

of the research justifies the deception. When the methodological 
requirements of a study necessitate concealment or deception, the 
investigator will be

required to explain clearly the reasons for this action as soon as possible.

c.

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION. Participation in research is typically voluntary 
and without any penalty for refusal to participate. Involuntary 
participation

will be appropriate only when it can be demonstrated that participation will 
have no harmful effects on participants and is essential to the 
investigation.

d.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION. Information obtained about research 
participants during the course of an investigation will be confidential. 
When the possibility

exists that others may obtain access to such information, ethical research 
practice requires that the possibility, together with the plans for 
protecting

confidentiality, will be explained to participants as a part of the 
procedure for obtaining informed consent.

e.

PERSONS INCAPABLE OF GIVING INFORMED CONSENT. When a person is incapable of 
giving informed consent, rehabilitation counselors will provide an 
appropriate

explanation, obtain agreement for participation, and obtain appropriate 
consent from a legally authorized person.

f.

COMMITMENTS TO PARTICIPANTS. Rehabilitation counselors will take reasonable 
measures to honor all commitments to research participants.

g.

EXPLANATIONS AFTER DATA COLLECTION. After data are collected, rehabilitation 
counselors will provide participants with full clarification of the nature

of the study to remove any misconceptions. Where scientific or human values 
justify delaying or withholding information, rehabilitation counselors will

take reasonable measures to avoid causing harm.

h.

AGREEMENTS TO COOPERATE. Rehabilitation counselors who agree to cooperate 
with another individual in research or publication will incur an obligation 
to

cooperate as agreed.

i.

INFORMED CONSENT FOR SPONSORS. In the pursuit of research, rehabilitation 
counselors will give sponsors, institutions, and publication channels the 
same

opportunity for giving informed consent that they accord to individual 
research participants. Rehabilitation counselors will be aware of their 
obligation

to future researchers and will ensure that host institutions are given 
feedback information and proper acknowledgment.

H.3. REPORTING RESULTS

a.

INFORMATION AFFECTING OUTCOME. When reporting research results, 
rehabilitation counselors will explicitly mention all variables and 
conditions known to

the investigator that may have affected the outcome of a study or the 
interpretation of data.

b.

ACCURATE RESULTS. Rehabilitation counselors will plan, conduct, and report 
research accurately and in a manner that minimizes the possibility that 
results

will be misleading. They will provide thorough discussions of the 
limitations of their data and alternative hypotheses. Rehabilitation 
counselors will

not engage in fraudulent research, distort data, misrepresent data, or 
deliberately bias their results.

c.

OBLIGATION TO REPORT UNFAVORABLE RESULTS. Rehabilitation counselors will 
make available the results of any research judged to be of professional 
value even

if the results reflect unfavorably on institutions, programs, services, 
prevailing opinions, or vested interests.

d.

IDENTITY OF PARTICIPANTS. Rehabilitation counselors who supply data, aid in 
the research of another person, report research results, or make original 
data

available will take due care to disguise the identity of respective 
participants in the absence of specific authorization from the participants 
to do otherwise.

e.

REPLICATION STUDIES. Rehabilitation counselors will be obligated to make 
sufficient original research data available to qualified professionals who 
may

wish to replicate the study.

H.4. PUBLICATION

a.

RECOGNITION OF OTHERS. When conducting and reporting research, 
rehabilitation counselors will be familiar with and give recognition to 
previous work on

the topic, observe copyright laws, and give full credit to those to whom 
credit is due.

b.

CONTRIBUTORS. Rehabilitation counselors will give credit through joint 
authorship, acknowledgment, footnote statements, or other appropriate means 
to those

who have contributed significantly to research or concept development in 
accordance with such contributions. The principal contributor will be listed 
first

and minor technical or professional contributions are acknowledged in notes 
or introductory statements.

c.

STUDENT RESEARCH. For an article that is substantially based on a student's 
dissertation or thesis, the student will be listed as the principal author.

d.

DUPLICATE SUBMISSION. Rehabilitation counselors will submit manuscripts for 
consideration to only one journal at a time. Manuscripts that are published

in whole or in substantial part in another journal or published work will 
not be submitted for publication without acknowledgment and permission from 
the

previous publication.

e.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW. Rehabilitation counselors who review material submitted 
for publication, research, or other scholarly purposes will respect the 
confidentiality

and proprietary rights of those who submitted it.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 16 rows

SECTION I: ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS

I.1. COMMUNICATION

a.

COMMUNICATION TOOLS. Rehabilitation counselors will be held to the same 
level of expected behavior as defined by the Code of Professional Ethics for 
Rehabilitation

Counselors regardless of the form of communication they choose to use (i.e., 
cellular phones, electronic mail, facsimile, video, audio-visual).

b.

IMPOSTERS. In situations where it is difficult to verify the identity of the 
rehabilitation counselor, the client, or the client's guardian, 
rehabilitation

counselors will take steps to address imposter concerns, such as using code 
words, numbers, or graphics.

c.

CONFIDENTIALITY. Rehabilitation counselors will ensure that clients are 
provided sufficient information to adequately address and explain the limits 
of:

(1) computer technology in the counseling process in general; and (2) the 
difficulties of ensuring complete client confidentiality of information 
transmitted

through electronic communication over the Internet through on-line 
counseling.

I.2. COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP

a.

ETHICAL/LEGAL REVIEW. Rehabilitation counselors will review pertinent legal 
and ethical codes for possible violations emanating from the practice of 
distance

counseling and supervision. Distance counseling is defined as any counseling 
that occurs at a distance through electronic means, such as web-counseling,

tele-counseling, or video-counseling.

b.

SECURITY. Rehabilitation counselors will use encryption methods whenever 
possible. If encryption is not made available to clients, clients must be 
informed

of the potential hazards of unsecured communication on the Internet. Hazards 
may include authorized or unauthorized monitoring of transmissions and/or

records of sessions.

c.

RECORDS PRESERVATION. Rehabilitation counselors will inform clients whether 
the records are being preserved, how they are being preserved, and how long

the records are being maintained.

d.

SELF-DESCRIPTION. Rehabilitation counselors will provide information about 
themselves as would be available if the counseling were to take place 
face-to-face

(e.g., possibly ethnicity or gender).

e.

CONSUMER PROTECTION. Rehabilitation counselors will provide information to 
the client regarding all appropriate certification bodies and licensure 
boards

to facilitate consumer protection, such as links to websites.

f.

CRISIS CONTACT. Rehabilitation counselors will provide the name of at least 
one agency or counselor-on-call for purposes of crisis intervention within 
the

client's geographical region.

g.

UNAVAILABILITY. Rehabilitation counselors will provide clients with 
instructions for contacting them when they are unavailable through 
electronic means.

h.

INAPPROPRIATE USE. Rehabilitation counselors will mention at their websites 
or in their initial contacts with potential clients those presenting 
problems

they believe to be inappropriate for distance counseling.

i.

TECHNICAL FAILURE. Rehabilitation counselors will explain to clients the 
possibility of technology failure and will provide an alternative means of 
communication.

j.

POTENTIAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS. Rehabilitation counselors will explain to 
clients how to prevent and address potential misunderstandings arising from 
the lack

of visual cues and voice intonations from the counselor or client.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 17 rows

SECTION J: BUSINESS PRACTICES

J.1. BILLING

Rehabilitation counselors will establish and maintain billing records that 
accurately reflect the services provided and the time engaged in the 
activity,

and that clearly identify who provided the service.

J.2. TERMINATION

Rehabilitation counselors in fee for service relationships may terminate 
services with clients due to nonpayment of fees under the following 
conditions:

a) the client was informed of payment responsibilities and the effects of 
nonpayment or the termination of payment by a third party, and b) the client

does not pose an imminent danger to self or others. As appropriate, 
rehabilitation counselors will refer clients to another qualified 
professional to address

issues unresolved at the time of termination.

J.3. CLIENT RECORDS

a.

ACCURATE DOCUMENTATION. Rehabilitation counselors will establish and will 
maintain documentation that accurately reflects the services provided and 
that

identifies who provided the service. If case notes need to be altered, it 
will be done so in a manner that preserves the original note and will be 
accompanied

by the date of change, information that identifies who made the change, and 
the rationale for the change.

b.

SUFFICIENT DOCUMENTATION. Rehabilitation counselors will provide sufficient 
documentation in a timely manner (e.g., case notes, reports, plans).

c.

PRIVACY. Documentation generated by rehabilitation counselors will protect 
the privacy of clients to the extent that it is possible and appropriate, 
and

will include only relevant information.

d.

MAINTENANCE. Rehabilitation counselors will maintain records necessary for 
rendering professional services to their clients and as required by 
applicable

laws, regulations, or agency/institution procedures. Subsequent to file 
closure, records will be maintained for the number of years consistent with 
jurisdictional

requirements or for a longer period during which maintenance of such records 
is necessary or helpful to provide reasonably anticipated future services

to the client. After that time, records will be destroyed in a manner 
assuring preservation of confidentiality.

J.4. FEES AND BARTERING

a.

ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING. Rehabilitation counselors will clearly explain to 
clients, prior to entering the counseling relationship, all financial 
arrangements

related to professional services including the use of collection agencies or 
legal measures for nonpayment.

b.

ESTABLISHING FEES. In establishing fees for professional rehabilitation 
counseling services, rehabilitation counselors will consider the financial 
status

and locality of clients. In the event that the established fee structure is 
inappropriate for a client, assistance will be provided in attempting to 
find

comparable services of acceptable cost.

c.

BARTERING DISCOURAGED. Rehabilitation counselors will ordinarily refrain 
from accepting goods or services from clients in return for rehabilitation 
counseling

services because such arrangements create inherent potential for conflicts, 
exploitation, and distortion of the professional relationship. 
Rehabilitation

counselors will participate in bartering only if the relationship is not 
exploitative, if the client requests it, if a clear written contract is 
established,

and if such arrangements are an accepted practice in the client's community 
or culture.

J.5. FEES FOR REFERRAL

a.

ACCEPTING FEES FROM AGENCY CLIENTS. Rehabilitation counselors will not 
accept a private fee or other remuneration for rendering services to persons 
who

are entitled to such services through the rehabilitation counselor's 
employing agency or institution. However, the policies of a particular 
agency may

make explicit provisions for agency clients to receive rehabilitation 
counseling services from members of its staff in private practice. In such 
instances,

the clients will be informed of other options open to them should they seek 
private rehabilitation counseling services.

b.

REFERRAL FEES. Rehabilitation counselors will neither give nor receive 
commissions, rebates or any other form of remuneration when referring 
clients for

professional services.

Back to contents

table end

Table with 2 columns and 14 rows

SECTION K: RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES

K.1. KNOWLEDGE OF STANDARDS

Rehabilitation counselors are responsible for learning the Code and should 
seek clarification of any standard that is not understood. Lack of knowledge

or misunderstanding of an ethical responsibility will not be used as a 
defense against a charge of unethical conduct.

K.2. SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS

a.

CONSULTATION. When uncertain as to whether a particular situation or course 
of action may be in violation of the Code of Professional Ethics for 
Rehabilitation

Counselors, rehabilitation counselors will consult with other rehabilitation 
counselors who are knowledgeable about ethics, with colleagues, and/or with

appropriate authorities, such as CRCC, state licensure boards, or legal 
counsel.

b.

ORGANIZATION CONFLICTS. If the demands of an organization with which 
rehabilitation counselors are affiliated pose a conflict with the Code of 
Professional

Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, rehabilitation counselors will specify 
the nature of such conflicts and express to their supervisors or other 
responsible

officials their commitment to the Code of Professional Ethics for 
Rehabilitation Counselors. When possible, rehabilitation counselors will 
work toward

change within the organization to allow full adherence to the Code of 
Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors.

c.

INFORMAL RESOLUTION. When rehabilitation counselors have reasonable cause to 
believe that another rehabilitation counselor is violating an ethical 
standard,

they will attempt to resolve the issue informally with the other 
rehabilitation counselor if feasible, providing that such action does not 
violate confidentiality

rights that may be involved.

d.

REPORTING SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS. When an informal resolution is not 
appropriate or feasible, rehabilitation counselors, upon reasonable cause, 
will take

action such as reporting the suspected ethical violation to state or 
national ethics committees or CRCC, unless this action conflicts with 
confidentiality

rights that cannot be resolved.

e.

UNWARRANTED COMPLAINTS. Rehabilitation counselors will not initiate, 
participate in, or encourage the filing of ethics complaints that are 
unwarranted or

intended to harm a rehabilitation counselor rather than to protect clients 
or the public.

K.3. COOPERATION WITH ETHICS COMMITTEES

Rehabilitation counselors will assist in the process of enforcing the Code 
of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors. Rehabilitation 
counselors

will cooperate with investigations, proceedings, and requirements of the 
CRCC Ethics Committee or ethics committees of other duly constituted 
associations

or boards having jurisdiction over those charged with a violation.

Back to contents

Acknowledgements - CRCC recognizes the American Counseling Association for 
permitting the Commission to adopt, in part, the ACA Code of Ethics and 
Standards

of Practice.

A copy of CRCC's Guidelines and Procedures for Processing Complaints along 
with a Complaint Form may be obtained from CRCC's web site at 
www.crccertification.com

or by contacting CRCC at:

CRCC

300 N. Martingale Road, Suite 460

Schaumburg, IL 60173

(847) 944-1325

Adopted: 6/01 Effective: 1/02

table end

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 6:12 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] New Blog Post

> Hello,
>
>
>
> I have revised my little essay about the cost of consumer involvement.  It
> is now posted on our website/blog at
> http://nfbmi.blogspot.com/2010/08/reflections-on-cost-of-consumer.html.;
>
>
>
> In this way others may view this and other matters to do with the NFBM.  i
> invite/encourae anyone interested to send me items for posting.  Our 
> website
> format will soon change.  Our Blog will remain as a link on our site.  So,
> feel free to join in and take part in making our website a living, 
> breathing
> example of our spirit and philosophy.
>
>
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
>
>
> Fred
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nfbmi-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/joeharcz%40comcast.net 