Counselling Contracts: What to Factor In

The right counselling contract can protect you from getting sued by patients. Here are a few things to remember when drawing one up.

Sensitivity to the patient’s personal background

Anything that is not understood counts for nothing. The patient is only truly informed if he or she understood what was told. In other words, couch your explanation in terms the patient can understand or relate to. Refrain from jargon and abbreviations. When language is an issue, a counsellor may hire a qualified translator or interpreter. One should also consider cultural barriers and adjust where appropriate.

Counselling Mistakes That Lead to Legal Problems

Counselling is an intensely private field of work, one that is not error free. Below are some common transgressions that often lead to legal consequences:

Using techniques without intensive training. Some therapists practice a technique even if they are not thoroughly trained in its methodology. This often leads to skewed results since the therapist’s knowledge on how to conduct the technique is not what can be considered in depth. Experts remind practitioners to focus on their expertise and invest in a comprehensive training to broaden your skill sets.