Client’s Bill of Rights
Introduction
When we meet, I will be happy to discuss with you your rights as a client. I will also discuss with you information about counseling and treatment so that you can make an informed decision, a process called informed consent. That discussion will include elements of client confidentiality, which helps create a safe therapeutic encounter. For those who like to roll up their sleeves and dig into all the details of the parameters of our therapeutic relationship, feel free to thoroughly go through the documents I will share with you before our first session. In all of our interactions, I will uphold the code of ethics of the AAMFT.
Below you’ll find the Client’s Bill of Rights, which serves as a terrific reminder that you, the client, are entitled to certain reasonable expectations of me, the therapist. There are also client responsibilities that help contribute to a thriving therapeutic relationship.
Client’s Bill of Rights
From the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy
Consumers of therapy services offered by LMFT’s, LPC’s, LPCC’s, LICSW, and LP’s licensed by the State of Minnesota have the right:
to expect that a therapist has met the minimal qualifications of training and experience required by state law;
to examine public records maintained by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy which contain the credentials of a therapist;
to obtain a copy of the code of ethics from the State Register and Public Documents Division, Department of Administration, 117 University Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55155;
to report complaints to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy University Park Plaza Building, 2829 University Avenue SE, Suite 210, Minneapolis, MN 55414-3222;
to be informed of the cost of professional services before receiving the services;
to privacy as defined by rule and law;
to be free from being the object of discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, or other unlawful category while receiving services;
to have access to their records as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 144.292;
to be free from exploitation for the benefit or advantage of a therapist
to give informed consent
to make independent decisions
to receive prompt and reasonable responses to questions
to refuse to disclose information, although this refusal may compromise the benefits of therapy to terminate therapy
to know about the process of therapy
Client Responsibilities
to ask questions for clarification and to correct misunderstandings
to express concerns
to be honest with the therapist
to be respectful to the therapist’s person and property
to actively work and invest effort during and between therapy sessions
to make full and timely payments
to come to appointments on time and as scheduled
to give 24 hours notice of cancellation of appointments