Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 135 - RULES OF GEORGIA COMPOSITE BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS
Chapter 135-7 - CODE OF ETHICS
Rule 135-7-.03 - Confidentiality
Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 135-7-.03
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1) The licensee holds in confidence all information obtained at any time during the course of a professional relationship, beginning with the first professional contact. The licensee safeguards clients' confidences as permitted by law.
(2) Unprofessional conduct includes but is not limited to the following:
(a) revealing a
confidence of a client, whether living or deceased, to anyone except:
1. as required by law;
2. after obtaining the consent of the client,
when the client is a legally competent adult, or the legal custodian, when the
client is a minor or a mentally incapacitated adult. The licensee shall provide
a description of the information to be revealed and the persons to whom the
information will be revealed prior to obtaining such consent. When more than
one client has participated in the therapy, the licensee may reveal information
regarding only those clients who have consented to the disclosure;
3. where the licensee is a defendant in a
civil, criminal, or disciplinary action arising from the therapy, in which case
client confidences may be disclosed in the course of that action;
4. where there is clear and imminent danger
to the client or others, in which case the licensee shall take whatever
reasonable steps are necessary to protect those at risk including, but not
limited to, warning any identified victims and informing the responsible
authorities; and
5. when discussing
case material with a professional colleague for the purpose of consultation or
supervision;
(b) failing
to obtain written, informed consent from each client before electronically
recording sessions with that client or before permitting third party
observation of their sessions;
(c)
failing to store or dispose of client records in a way that maintains
confidentiality, and when providing any client with access to that client's
records, failing to protect the confidences of other persons contained in that
record;
(d) failing to protect the
confidences of the client from disclosure by employees, associates, and others
whose services are utilized by the licensee; and
(e) failing to disguise adequately the
identity of a client when using material derived from a counseling relationship
for purposes of training or research.
O.C.G.A. 43-7A-5(d).
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