Record Keeping Guidelines Record Keeping Guidelines American Psychologist 1993 by the American Psychological Association September 1993 Vol. These guidelines are aspirational and professional judgment must be used in specific applications. They are intended for use by providers of health care services. The language of these guidelines must be interpreted in light of their aspirational intent, advancements in psychology and the technology of record keeping, and the professional judgment of the individual psychologist. Underlying Principles and Purpose Psychologists maintain records for a variety of reasons, the most important of which is the benefit of the client.
Records allow a psychologist to document and review the delivery of psychological services.
The nature and extent of the record will vary depending upon the type and purpose of psychological services. Records can provide a history and current status in the event that a user seeks psychological services from another psychologist or mental health professional. Conscientious record keeping may also benefit psychologists themselves, by guiding them to plan and implement an appropriate course of psychological services, to review work as a whole, and to self-monitor more precisely. Maintenance of appropriate records may also be relevant for a variety of other institutional, financial, and legal purposes. State and federal laws in many cases require maintenance of appropriate records of certain kinds of psychological services.