CLIENT'S BILL OF RIGHT

A summary of the Client’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities is as follows:

1. A client has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his/her individual dignity, and with protection of his/her need for privacy.
2. A client has a right to receive information regarding his/her rights as a counselee, provided to him/her during the course of the admissions process or at the earliest possible appropriate moment during the course of counseling.
3. A client has the right to a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
4. A client has the right to quality care and high professional standards.
5. A client has the right, in collaboration with his/her counselor, to make decisions involving his/her health care.
6. A client has the right to have all information, including records pertaining to his/her counseling care, treated as confidential, except as otherwise provided by law or third-party contractual arrangements.
7. A client has the right to know who is providing counseling services and who is responsible for his/her care.
8. A client has the right to know what client support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if he/she does not speak English.
9. A client has the right to know what rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct.
10. A client has the right to be given, by the counselor, information concerning the planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, benefits, and potential treatment outcome.
11. A client has the right to refuse any counseling, and the right to withdraw from counseling at any time.
12. A client has the right to be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for his/her care.
13. A client who has insurance, upon request and in advance of counseling, has the right to be told whether the counselor accepts his/her insurance for the purpose of payment for counseling services rendered.
14. A client has the right to receive, upon request and prior to counseling, a reasonable estimate of charges for counseling services.
15. A client has the right to receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable itemized bill, and upon request, to have the charges explained.
16.A client is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her counseling care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
17. A client has the right to express grievances/complaints regarding any violation of his/her rights through an established grievance procedure. First, the client can contact his/her counselor and discuss the nature of the grievance/complaint with the counselor. Second, the client can contact the counselor’s state licensing board and submit a grievance/complaint against the counselor. A client has the right, without recrimination, to voice complaints regarding his/her care, to have those complaints reviewed, and when possible, resolved.
18. A client is responsible for providing to the counselor, to the best of his/her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health.
19. A client has the right to ask questions if directions and/or procedures are not clearly understood.
20. A client is responsible for reporting unexpected changes in his/her condition to the counselor.
21. A client is responsible for reporting to the counselor whether he/she comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her.
22. A client is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the counselor.
23. The client is responsible for keeping appointments and when he/she is unable to do so for whatever reason, he/she should notify the counselor at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment.
24. A client is responsible for his/her actions if he/she refuses or does not follow the counselor’s instructions.