Learn about the American Counseling Associations ethical codes related to the abandonment of clients. This cover information about how clients may be abandoned if a therapist abruptly quits, goes on vacation, experiences an unexpected illness, and more. Not only that, you’ll learn about how to prevent the abandonment and neglect of clients.
According to the American Counseling Association (ACA), they define abandonment as “the inappropriate ending or arbitrary termination of a counseling relationship that puts the client at risk.” They go on to state that “counselors do not abandon or neglect clients in counseling. Counselors assist in making appropriate arrangements for the continuation of treatment, when necessary, during interruptions such as vacations, illness, and following termination.”
It is the expectation that counselors have plans for if an emergency were to arise where they would not be able to care for their clients. The ACA’s code C.h.2. explains this by saying that “counselors prepare a plan for the transfer of clients and the dissemination of records to an identified colleague or records custodian in the case of the counselor’s incapacitation, death, retirement, or termination of practice.”
There are many ways that a counselor could abandon a client. Let’s look at a few of the more likely situations where this could occur.
Vacations: Of course, we all can take time off and it’s important for us to balance our time at work and on personal matters. That said, if we’re out on vacation, it is important to let clients know we will be unavailable. Not only that, we may arrange for them to see another therapist while we are out, or to make sure they know of other resources to contact in our absence, such as crisis lines. In some cases, you may arrange for a client to see another therapist while you’re away.
Emergencies: This is a broad category, but the idea is that we can all have things come up unexpectedly that we must tend to and that will also have us away from the office for some time. This may be an accident, illness, or the death of a loved on as some examples.
Termination: We aren’t always able to see every client—this might be due to a conflict of interest or not having the competence or skill for their presenting issue as some examples. But, there are other factors that might make termination the best way forward as well. When we have to terminate with a client, we can’t just not see them. Instead, we need to refer clients to other professionals who are able to work with them and are competent with the client’s presenting problem. Typically, when a client is referred out to another therapist, we should provide a list of at least three therapists that we recommend.
If a situations arises where you are no longer able to manage the records for your clients—such as if you were to become incapacitated or retire—a records custodian would be tasked with managing them. The ACA’s definition of this is “a professional colleague who agrees to serve as the caretaker of client records for another mental health professional”. Having a records custodian is a good idea as a layer of preventing the abandonment of clients.
If you or someone you know are needing immediate mental health assistance, please call or text 988, contact a local emergency telephone number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
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