COUNSELOR'S ROLE

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Counselor’s Role: The primary responsibility of licensed professional

counselors is to respect dignity and promote clients' welfare. Licensed

professional counselors act with deliberation to avoid foreseeable harm to clients and to

minimize or remedy unanticipated harm.

• Therapists do not advise on relationships they have never witnessed.
• Therapists do not formally assess anything about a person, especially a “non-patient” and give a “professional opinion” about such a person or relationship. 
• Therapists do not offer opinions on issues of custody unless a duty to warn of harm to  a minor is involved 

Per:

§ 34-8A-21. Privileged communications and confidential relations between

practitioner and client.

For this chapter, the confidential relations and communications between

a licensed professional counselor or associate licensed counselor and client are placed upon the same basis as those provided by law between attorney and client, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require any such privileged communication to be disclosed.

PRIVATE PRACTICE OF COUNSELING. Rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public counseling services, in settings of individual or group practice, for a fee, salary, or other compensation, involving the application of principles, methods, or procedures of the counseling profession which include, but are not restricted to: a. Counseling. To render evaluation and therapy that includes, but is not limited to, providing individual counseling, family counseling, marital counseling, group therapy, school counseling, play therapy, rehabilitation counseling, art therapy, human growth and development counseling, couples counseling, chemical abuse or dependency counseling, career counseling, and vocational disability counseling. The use of specific methods, techniques, or modalities within the practice of a licensed professional counselor is restricted to counselors appropriately trained in the use of these methods, techniques, or modalities. A licensed professional counselor or associate licensed counselor may diagnose and develop treatment plans but shall not attempt to diagnose, prescribe for, treat, or advise a client with reference to problems or complaints falling outside the boundaries of counseling services.