1. Staying Up-to-Date & Relevant: Advancing Professional Ethics in Rehabilitation The GREAT Conference Asheville, NC November 3, Brenda Y. Cartwright, EdD, CRC, NCC, LPC. MHC Developed and published by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification 1699 E. Woodfield Road, Suite 300 Schaumburg, IL All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

2. Noted changes in practice since 2010 Code became effective
Factors Influencing Revisions to the CRCC Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors
Ethics Committee initiated the revision process with a review of issues identified:
Patterns in advisory opinions
Analysis of reported complaints and violations
2013 Ethics Survey
Noted changes in practice since 2010 Code became effective

3. Patterns in Advisory Opinions
Disclosure
Legal Issues
Confidentiality
Forensic and Indirect Services
Informed Consent
View opinions at:
Source: Cartwright, B.Y. & Hartley, M.T. (2016). Ethics consultation in rehabilitation counseling: A content analysis of CRCC advisory opinions, Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 59(2),

4. Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Professional Disclosure

5. Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Legal Issues

6. Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Confidentiality

7. Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Forensic and Indirect Services

8. Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Informed Consent

9. CRCC Ethics Committee Actions (2006 and 2013)
71 complaints received
37 were accepted for further review
Violations were found in 22 cases
For updated info visit:
Source: Hartley, M.T. & Cartwright, B.Y. (2015). Analysis of reported ethical complaints and violations to the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 58(3),

10. Themes of Violations Role and relationship boundaries
Client rights and welfare
Honest and responsible conduct
Knowledge of ethics and the law
Forensic and evaluation practices
Secure and accurate record keeping

11. 2013 Ethics Survey
Web-based survey delivered to a random sample of 1,200 CRCs
211 respondents
Research questions
Describe the most ethically challenging or troubling incident or dilemma that you or a colleague faced in the past year or two.
What do you project may become an ethically troubling issue or dilemma faced by RC professionals in the near future?
Source: Hartley, M.T. & Cartwright, B.Y. (2016) A Survey of Current and Projected Ethical Dilemmas of Rehabilitation Counselors. Rehabilitation, Research, Policy & Education, 30 (1), doi:10.189/

12. Survey Findings Common themes of current dilemmas:
Roles and relationships with clients
Professional responsibility and competence
Confidentiality and privacy
Client welfare and autonomy
Organizational conflicts

13. Survey Findings (continued)
Common themes of projected dilemmas:
Social media and technology
Health care legislation and insurance
Roles and relationships with clients
Professional competence
Financial conflicts of interests

14. Revision Timeline
Late 2014 – 10 Member Code Revision Taskforce formed.
March 2015-January Taskforce engaged in several sessions to prepare recommendations.
March Ethics Committee considered recommendations.
April-June Draft Code made available for public comment through CRCC’s website.
August Taskforce reconvened to make further modifications based on public comments.
September Ethics Committee considered revised draft.
September 2016 – CRCC Board considered final draft.

15. New CRCC Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors
The Result….
New CRCC Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors
Effective January 1, 2017

16. Key Changes
Preamble:  Enhanced to reinforce that Enforceable Standards are not to be interpreted in isolation; actions of rehabilitation counselors should be consistent with the spirit, as well as the letter, of the Enforceable Standards.
Section Introductions:  Added to provide context for the Enforceable Standards within the section; introductions are aspirational – not enforceable.
Values & Termination/Referral:  Enhanced guidance regarding the obligation to avoid values imposition, including values issues in termination and referral. (A.4 and A.8.b)

17. Key Changes
Personal Virtual Relationships:  Prohibits engaging in personal virtual relationships with current clients (e.g., through social media). (A.5.f)
Roles and Relationships:  Provides additional guidance regarding service provision with previous sexual or romantic partners, friends, and family members; enhanced guidance about extending professional boundaries. (A.5.d, A.5.e, A.5.g & A.5.h)
Role Changes in Forensic Setting:  Provides cautions as well as clear guidance when changing roles, including the requirement to complete a new professional disclosure form. (F.1.c)

18. Key Changes (continued)
Assessment, Evaluation & Tests/Instruments:  Consistency in use of these terms applied throughout the section; terms defined in Glossary. (Section G & Glossary)
Technology:  Recognizes how technology is integrated in every aspect of practice; provides greater clarity for informed consent and disclosure in distance counseling; addresses required practices in use of social media. (Section J and throughout the Code)

19. Key Changes (continued)
Outcome-based Payments & Liens:  Includes guidance for acceptable practices; reinforces payment for services based on an outcome of a case or award is not acceptable. (K.3.d & F.4.a)
Self-Reporting:  New standard requiring notification to CRCC when certified rehabilitation counselors are sanctioned for violations of other ethical codes, violated laws related to rehabilitation counseling, or are convicted of offenses that constitute violations of the Code. (L.2.e)

20. Summary

21. Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
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