Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) Certified
counselors and certified advisers must provide a disclosure statement to each
client prior to starting a program of treatment.
(2) The following must appear in the
disclosure statement:
(a) The name of the
certified counselor or certified adviser and the name of their firm, agency, or
business, if any.
(b) The certified
counselor's or certified adviser's business address and telephone
number.
(c) The certified
counselor's or certified adviser's Washington state credential
number.
(d) The certified
counselor's or certified adviser's education, training, and
experience.
(e) The name and
description of the types of counseling provided by the certified counselor or
certified adviser, including the therapeutic orientation, methods, and
techniques employed in their practice, and a list of resources relevant to the
therapeutic orientation.
(f) The
type and duration of counseling expected, if known at the time of providing the
disclosure information.
(g) Fee
information, including:
(i) The cost for each
counseling session;
(ii) Billing
practices, including any advance payments and refunds;
(iii) A statement that clients are not liable
for any fees or charges for services rendered prior to receipt of the
disclosure statement.
(h) The limits of confidentiality under
RCW
18.19.180.
(i) Disclosure of the certified counselor's
or certified adviser's supervisory or consultation agreement as defined in WAC
246-810-025.
(j) Disclosure that the certified counselor
or certified adviser is not credentialed to diagnose mental disorders or to
conduct psychotherapy as defined in WAC
246-810-010(14).
(k) All of the following:
(i) Counselors practicing counseling for a
fee must be credentialed with the department of health for the protection of
the public health and safety.
(ii)
Credentialing of an individual with the department of health does not include a
recognition of any practice standards, nor necessarily imply the effectiveness
of any treatment.
(iii) The purpose
of the Counselor Credentialing Act, chapter 18.19 RCW, is to:
(A) Provide protection for public health and
safety; and
(B) Empower the
citizens of the state of Washington by providing a complaint process against
those counselors who would commit acts of unprofessional conduct.
(iv) Clients have the right to
choose counselors who best suit their needs and purposes.
(l) A copy of the acts of unprofessional
conduct in
RCW
18.130.180 and the name, address, and contact
telephone number within the department of health for complaints.
(m) Signature and date blocks for the client,
and the certified counselor or certified adviser, including an attestation that
the client agrees that the required disclosure statement has been provided and
that the client has read and understands the information.
Statutory Authority:
RCW
18.19.050 and chapter 18.19 RCW. 09-15-041,
§ 246-810-031, filed 7/8/09, effective 7/8/09. Statutory Authority:
RCW
18.19.050. 06-08-106, § 246-810-031,
filed 4/5/06, effective 5/6/06. Statutory Authority:
RCW
18.19.050(1). 97-17-113,
§ 246-810-031, filed 8/20/97, effective 9/20/97. Statutory Authority:
RCW
43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified
as § 246-810-031, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority:
RCW
18.19.060. 89-14-070 (Order PM 840), §
308-190-041, filed 6/30/89.
