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.
