In accordance with American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, highlights include:
Informed Consent
The informed consent form will be available to you when you complete intake forms via the secure online electronic health record portal. The informed consent document provides clients with risks and benefits of counseling, alternative treatment options and standards of care.
A.2.a. Informed Consent–Clients have the freedom to choose whether to enter into or remain in a counseling relationship and need adequate information about the counseling process and the counselor. Counselors have an obligation to review in writing and verbally with clients the rights and responsibilities of both counselors and clients. Informed consent is an ongoing part of the counseling process, and counselors appropriately document discussions of informed consent throughout the counseling relationship.
Confidentiality
Counselors have the ethical duty to protect a client’s identity, identifying characteristics, and private communications.
B.1.c. Respect for Confidentiality–Counselors protect the confidential information of prospective and current clients. Counselors disclose information only with appropriate consent or with sound legal or ethical justification. Counselors are mandated reporters.
Technology/Social Media Policy
The technology/social media policy form will be available to you when you complete intake forms via the secure online electronic health record portal. Majestic Counseling, LLC utilizes an electronic health platform to maintain client records. For the protection of potential, current and/or past clients, Majestic Counseling, LLC and Alexis Baca-Spry, LPC, NCC will not communicate with potential, current or past clients via public social media.
A.5.e. Personal Virtual Relationships–Counselors are prohibited from engaging in a personal virtual relationship with individuals with whom they have a current counseling relationship (e.g., through social and other media).
H.2.b. Confidentiality Maintained by the Counselor–Counselors acknowledge the limitations of maintaining the confidentiality of electronic records and transmissions. They inform clients that individuals might have authorized or unauthorized access to such records or transmissions (e.g., colleagues, supervisors, employees, information technologists).
H.2.c. Acknowledgment of Limitations–Counselors inform clients about the inherent limits of confidentiality when using technology. Counselors urge clients to be aware of authorized and/ or unauthorized access to information disclosed using this medium in the counseling process.
H.2.d. Security–Counselors use current encryption standards within their websites and/or technology-based communications that meet applicable legal requirements. Counselors take reasonable precautions to ensure the confidentiality of information transmitted through any electronic means.
H.5.a. Records–Counselors maintain electronic records in accordance with relevant laws and statutes. Counselors inform clients on how records are maintained electronically. This includes, but is not limited to, the type of encryption and security assigned to the records, and if/for how long archival storage of transaction records is maintained.
Notice of Privacy Practices
The notice of privacy practices form will be available to you when you complete intake forms via the secure online electronic health record portal.