Ohio Administrative Code › Title 4758 - Chemical Dependency Professionals Board › Chapter 4758-8 - Code of Ethical Practice and Professional Conduct › Section 4758-8-01 - Code of ethics for chemical dependency counselors

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A) The following rules of conduct set forth
			 the minimum standards of conduct which all applicants for licensure or
			 certification shall follow and establishes the minimum standard of practice for
			 certified chemical dependency counselor assistants (CDCA), licensed chemical
			 dependency counselors II (LCDCII), licensed chemical dependency counselors III
			 (LCDCIII), licensed independent chemical dependency counselors (LICDC),
			 licensed independent chemical dependency counselors-clinical supervisors
			 (LICDC-CS), and those licensees who carry the gambling disorder
			 endorsement.
(B) A violation of
			 rules of ethical practice and professional conduct constitutes unprofessional
			 conduct and is sufficient reason for a reprimand, suspension, revocation or for
			 restrictions to be placed on a license or certificate or for the denial of the
			 initial license or certificate or renewal, or reinstatement of a license or
			 certificate.
(C)
								Licensees and certificate holders are expected to
			 exemplify unwavering integrity in their professional endeavors. They should
			 consistently act in a manner that is ethical, honest, and transparent.
			 Maintaining the trust and confidence of their clients and colleagues is
			 paramount. Additionally, licensees and certificate holders large obligated to
			 uphold integrity in their personal relationships and activities, understanding
			 that their actions outside of work can significantly impact their professional
			 reputation. By demonstrating integrity both professionally and personally,
			 licensees and certificate holders can foster an environment of trust,
			 credibility, and accountability within their field.
(1) Professional standards:
(a) The licensee or certificate holder shall
			 meet and comply with all terms, conditions or limitations of licensure or
			 certification.
(b) The licensee or
			 certificate holder shall recognize limitations of his or her competency based
			 on professional qualifications, education and experience and shall not offer
			 services or use techniques outside his or her professional competency or scope
			 of practice defined by rules
			 4758-6-01 to
			 4758-6-14 of the Administrative
			 Code.
(c) A licensee or certificate
			 holder shall obtain appropriate consultation or make an appropriate referral
			 when the client's problem is beyond the licensee or certificate holder's area
			 of training, expertise, competency or scope of practice.
(d) The licensee or certificate holder shall
			 refer clients to a person or agency that the licensee or certificate holder
			 knows is qualified by training, experience, certification or license to provide
			 such professional services.
(e) The
			 licensee or certificate holder shall not participate in discrimination
			 of clients and family members, including but not
			 limited to, on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation,
			 religion, age, national ancestry, genetic information,
			 parental status, military status, socioeconomic status, political belief,
			 psychiatric or psychological conditions
										, disability
			 , the amount of previous therapeutic or
			 treatment occurrences, or against other persons
			 that could be subject to discrimination but are not expressly protected by
			 state or federal law.
(f) The
			 licensee or certificate holder shall be aware of and comply with all applicable
			 state and federal guidelines, regulations, and
			 statutes .
(g) In general, in 
										substance use disorder and gambling disorder
			 counseling, the best interest of the client is considered to be of paramount
			 importance in making decisions regarding treatment. The "best interest" of the
			 client would reflect these things that would most benefit the client
			 economically, socially, vocationally and in terms of freedom from external
			 restrictions. However, there may exist in the context of
			 
										substance use disorder or gambling disorder treatment
			 certain protocols, restrictions, or arrangements which are contrary to what
			 clients would consider to be in their best interest. There may also be
			 circumstances in which agency philosophy or orientation or the personal beliefs
			 of the counselor may influence decisions regarding the client's treatment. When
			 such circumstances or restrictions are present, they should be disclosed and
			 explained to the client unless such disclosure is expressly prohibited or would
			 clearly violate the safety, rights or interests of another person.
(h)
										The licensee or certificate holder shall primarily be
			 concerned with the welfare of the client. The licensee
			 or certificate holder shall respect the integrity of the
			 client.
(i) The licensee or
			 certificate holder shall  not engage in any action
			 that violates the civil or legal rights of clients.
(j)
										The license or certificate holder
			 shall have an obligation to protect the client's right to confidentiality as
			 established by law or the professional standards of practice. Confidential
			 information shall only be revealed to others when the clients or other persons
			 legally authorize to give consent on the behalf of the clients, have given
			 their informed and written consent, unless there is a serious and current or
			 imminent threat of harm to the client of others or as otherwise authorized by
			 law.
(k) The licensee or
			 certificate holder shall not place an individual in any activity or setting
			 where such participation could harm the individual.
(l) The licensee or certificate holder shall
			 not offer professional services to a client in 
										substance use disorder or gambling disorder counseling
			 with another professional except with the knowledge of the other professional
			 or after the termination of the client relationship with the other
			 professional.
(m) A licensee or
			 certificate holder shall terminate a 
										substance use disorder or
			 gambling disorder counseling or consulting relationship when it is reasonably
			 clear to the licensee or certificate holder that the client is not benefiting
			 from it.
(n) A licensee or
			 certificate holder shall not discontinue professional services to a client
			 unless:
(i) Services have been
			 completed;
(ii) The client requests
			 the discontinuation;
(iii)
			 Alternative or replacement services are arranged; or
(iv) The client is given reasonable
			 opportunity to arrange alternative or replacement services.
(o) A licensee or certificate
			 holder shall not physically or verbally abuse or threaten clients,
			 former clients, or family members of clients
			 or former clients.
(p) A licensee
			 or certificate holder shall not use derogatory language in their written or
			 verbal communications to or about clients, 
										former
			 clients, or family members of clients or former
			 clients.
(q)
										A licensee or certificate holder is required to submit
			 and maintain their legal address and contact information through the board's
			 electronic licensure system and is required to notify the board of any changes
			 to their name, mailing address, phone number or email address within thirty
			 days.
(r)
										A licensee or certificate holder shall not provide
			 services without appropriate supervision in accordance with their scope of
			 practice, which shall include completion of any required supervision
			 documentation.