Course Format

Webinars and online courses often provide reliable information on an issue. They tell us a lot. Rarely, however, do they show us how to respond when we find ourselves entangled in the issue. This short course is different. In it, we attempt to tell and show. Toward that end, this course is comprised of two types of videos:

1. Explanation Videos
2. Demonstration Videos

Each module will begin with a narrated PowerPoint presentation explaining an ethics topic relevant to Pre-ETS. Demonstration videos will follow the explanation videos. The demonstration videos are filmed with a 360-degree camera, providing viewers a front-row seat to common ethical dilemmas counselors encounter in delivering Pre-ETS services. Viewers can adjust their view of the scene by clicking and dragging their cursors on the screen.

Accessibility Options

All videos include Closed Captions. Additionally, participants can choose alternative accessibility options (e.g., auditory description and video transcripts) by clicking on the links listed before each video.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to identify the following:

1. Sections of the 2023 CRCC Code of Ethics that apply to Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS):
   • Confidentiality (Section B.3.b, B.5)
   • Client Rights & Relationships (Sections A.3.d, A.4.j, F.2.d)
   • Disclosure (Section C.1.f)
   • Technology & Social Media (Sections A.4.f, K)
2. Ethical dilemmas that commonly occur when working in Pre-ETS (Section M)
3. Ethical decision-making model (M.2.a)
4. Practical solutions to real-world ethical dilemmas (M.2)

2023 Code of Professional Ethics

Download the 2023 CRCC Code of Professional Ethics by clicking this link: 2023-Code-of-Ethics.pdf. Also, for quick reference, sections of the code that are referenced in this course are copied below.

SECTION A: THE COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP

A.3. CLIENT RIGHTS

d. INABILITY TO GIVE CONSENT. When counseling minors or persons who have limited capacity to give
voluntary informed consent, CRCs/CCRCs seek the assent of clients and include clients in decision-making
as appropriate. Parents and legal guardians are informed about the confidential nature of the counseling
relationship. CRCs/CCRCs embrace the diversity of family systems and the inherent rights and
responsibilities parents/guardians have for the welfare of their children/dependents. CRCs/CCRCs
recognize the need to balance the (1) ethical rights of clients to make choices; (2) cognitive or legal capacity
of clients to give consent or assent; and (3) legal rights and responsibilities of legal guardians to protect
clients and make decisions on their behalf

A.4. PROHIBITED ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS

f. PERSONAL VIRTUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH CURRENT CLIENTS. CRCs/CCRCs are prohibited from
engaging in personal, non-professional electronic or virtual relationships with current clients (e.g., through
social media).

j. ACCEPTING GIFTS. CRCs/CCRCs shall not accept gifts from clients except in cases when it is culturally
appropriate or therapeutically relevant. CRCs/CCRCs understand the challenges of accepting gifts from
clients and recognize that in some cultures, small gifts are a token of respect and gratitude. When
determining whether to accept gifts from clients, CRCs/CCRCs take into account the cultural or community
practice, therapeutic relationship, the monetary value of the gift(s), the client’s motivation for giving the
gift(s), and the motivation of the CRCs/CCRCs for accepting or declining the gift(s). CRCs/CCRCs are
aware of and comply with their employers’ policies on accepting gifts and seek consultation with their
supervisor when necessary.

SECTION B: CONFIDENTIALITY, PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION, AND PRIVACY

B.3. INFORMATION SHARED WITH OTHERS

b. INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS. When services provided by CRCs/CCRCs to clients involve the sharing
of their information among team members, clients are advised of this fact during the professional disclosure
process and are informed of the team’s existence and composition.

B.5. RESPONSIBILITY TO CLIENTS LACKING CAPACITY TO CONSENT

a. RESPONSIBILITY TO CLIENTS. When counseling minors or persons who are unable to give consent,
voluntary assent is sought. CRCs/CCRCs protect the confidentiality of information received in the
counseling relationship, in any format, as specified by law, written policies, and applicable ethical standards.
b. RESPONSIBILITY TO LEGAL GUARDIANS AND PARENTS. CRCs/CCRCs inform legal guardians,
including parents who are legal guardians, about the role of CRCs/CCRCs and the confidential nature of the
services provided, as consistent with current legal and custodial arrangements. CRCs/CCRCs are sensitive
to the diversity of families and respect the inherent rights and responsibilities of parents/guardians regarding
the welfare of their children/dependents according to the law. CRCs/CCRCs work to establish, as
appropriate, collaborative relationships with legal guardians to best serve clients.
c. RELEASE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. When working with minors or persons who lack the
capacity to give voluntary informed consent to the release of confidential information, CRCs/CCRCs obtain
written permission from legal guardians or legal power of attorney to disclose the information. In cases
where there is no legal guardian or legal power of attorney, CRCs/CCRCs engage in an ethical decision-making process to determine appropriate action. In such instances, CRCs/CCRCs inform clients consistent with their level of understanding and take culturally appropriate measures to safeguard client confidentiality.

SECTION C: ADVOCACY AND ACCESSIBILITY

C.1. ADVOCACY

f. ADVOCACY AND CONSENT. CRCs/CCRCs obtain client consent prior to engaging in advocacy efforts
on behalf of a client to improve the provision of services and to work toward removal of systemic barriers or
obstacles that inhibit client access, growth, and development.

SECTION F: RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND EMPLOYERS

F.2. ORGANIZATION AND TEAM RELATIONSHIPS

d. CLIENTS AS TEAM MEMBERS. CRCs/CCRCs make reasonable efforts to ensure that clients and/or
their legally authorized representatives are afforded the opportunity for full participation in decisions related
to the services they receive. Only those with a need to know are allowed access to the information of
clients, and only then upon a properly executed release of information request or receipt of a court order.

SECTION K: TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND VIRTUAL COUNSELING

K.4. SOCIAL MEDIA
a. PROFESSIONAL ELECTRONIC PRESENCE. If CRCs/CCRCs choose to have a professional social
media presence that is separate and apart from their personal social media presence, they clearly display
the purpose and limits of the professional page. CRCs/CCRCs maintain professionalism, integrity, and
honesty in all electronic platforms interactions in which they are in their counselor role, avoiding making
statements or sharing content that is not relevant to the profession.
b. MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA. CRCs/CCRCs recognize that information posted on social media sites is
largely permanent and easily shared beyond the privacy settings of any particular site. CRCs/CCRCs take
reasonable steps to monitor for and remove or correct potentially harmful information shared on sites they
establish for their professional presence.
c. SOCIAL MEDIA AND INFORMED CONSENT. CRCs/CCRCs clearly explain to their clients, as part of
the informed consent procedure, the benefits, limitations, and boundaries of the use of social media in the
provision of services. As part of appropriate boundaries, CRCs/CCRCs include an explicit statement in the
disclosure regarding non-acceptance of friend or follow requests from clients on their personal social media
accounts. After termination of the rehabilitation counseling relationship, CRCs/CCRCs determine for
themselves if they will accept personal friend or follow requests from former clients. Additionally,
CRCs/CCRCs work within their organizations to develop and clearly communicate a social media policy so
the social media practice is transparent, consistent, and easily understood by clients. When discrepancies
exist between agency policy and the Code, CRCs/CCRCs advocate to align policies with the Code. If
CRCs/CCRCs choose to have a professional social media page, they can provide this information to clients.
d. PRIVACY IN SOCIAL MEDIA. CRCs/CCRCs respect the privacy of their client’s presence on social
media and avoid searching a client’s virtual presence unless relevant to the rehabilitation counseling
process. If a CRCs/CCRCs may search a client’s virtual presence, this is disclosed in advance.
CRCs/CCRCs caution clients of the potential impact that social media use may have on the counseling
relationship and discuss the benefits and risks of using social media within the rehabilitation counseling
process.
e. MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY IN SOCIAL MEDIA. CRCs/CCRCs protect the confidentiality of
clients by avoiding the posting of any personally identifiable information unless the client has provided
written consent to do so. In no circumstance should protected or highly sensitive information be shared via
social media platforms or agency/organization websites. Images of clients are not shared without written
consent of the client or the parent/guardian of a client when the client is unable to provide consent.