Explain informed consent and confidentiality to the client.

Informed consent involves the counselor explaining the benefits and risks of counseling as well as its alternatives. It also allows the counselor permission to record counseling sessions in writing, and via video and auditory means. In an educational institution setting, informed consent allows students to observe counseling sessions. Once these issues are explained to the potential client, the client is asked to sign legal documents that state the client understands and agrees to the services to be provided and their potential dangers. When counseling minors, informed consent must come from a parent. While explaining the pros and cons of counseling to the parent, the counselor must also explain the necessity of confidentiality in the therapeutic relationship with a minor. A confidentiality form is presented during the discussion of confidentiality. In adhering to counseling ethics, the counselor must explain that confidentiality is a promise not to discuss matters that are shared by the client with a third party unless under pre-determined exceptions. The exceptions to confidentiality include reporting information the client reveals to the counselor that suggests he or she is a danger to him or herself or others. For example: If a client talks about killing himself and identifies that he has a plan and the means to execute that plan, it is the counselor's ethical responsibility to inform appropriate medical authorities and assist the client in getting help. In regards to making threats to other people, especially a child, a significant other or an elderly person, it is the counselor's duty to report the threat to law enforcement. The other limitations to maintaining confidentiality in counseling are requests from legal authorities for information about the client's counseling. If a counselor is presented with a subpoena that demands the he or she turn over information from a client's sessions, he or she must do so. The client should be informed of all limits to confidentiality during the initial evaluation session. A signed confidentiality form and informed consent documents should be included in every client's chart before a therapeutic relationship begins.