💜 10 KEY TERMS – PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING & ETHICS 1.Confidentiality Keeping client information private unless consent or legal exceptions apply. 💡 Hook: “What’s said here, stays here… unless safety/legal issues.” 2.Privileged Communication A legal protection that prevents counselors from being forced to disclose client info in court. 💡 Hook: Confidentiality = ethical | Privilege = legal 3.Informed Consent Clients must understand risks, benefits, limits of confidentiality, and their rights before treatment begins. 💡 Hook: “No surprises in therapy.” 4.Duty to Warn Obligation to warn identifiable victims if a client poses a serious threat. 💡 Hook: Think Tarasoff case ⚖️ 5.Duty to Protect Broader than warn—includes warning, hospitalizing, or taking action to prevent harm. 💡 Hook: “Protect > just telling” 6.Dual Relationships When a counselor has more than one relationship with a client (friend, business, etc.). 💡 Hook: ⚠️ Risk of harm/exploitation 7. Scope of Practice Providing services within your training, competence, and licensure. 💡 Hook: “Stay in your lane.” 8. Competence Ongoing responsibility to maintain skills through training, supervision, and education. 💡 Hook: You don’t “arrive”—you maintain. 9.Malpractice Professional negligence that causes harm to a client. 💡 Hook: The 4 D’s: - Duty - Dereliction - Direct cause - Damages 10. Autonomy Respecting the client’s right to make their own decisions. 💡 Hook: “It’s THEIR life.” 💜Dr. Meka💜