Texas Register

TITLE 22 EXAMINING BOARDS
PART 30TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS
CHAPTER 681PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS
SUBCHAPTER BRULES OF PRACTICE
RULE §681.41General Ethical Requirements
ISSUE 09/15/2023
ACTION Final/Adopted
Preamble Texas Admin Code Rule

(a)A licensee must not make any false, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent or exaggerated claim or statement about the licensee's services, including, but not limited to:

  (1)the effectiveness of services;

  (2)the licensee's qualifications, capabilities, background, training, experience, education, professional affiliations, fees, products, or publications; or

  (3)the practice or field of counseling.

(b)A licensee must not make any false, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent or exaggerated claim or statement about the services of a mental health organization or agency, including, but not limited to, the effectiveness of services, qualifications, or products.

(c)A licensee must discourage a client from holding exaggerated or false ideas about the licensee's professional services, including, but not limited to, the effectiveness of the services, practice, qualifications, associations, or activities. If a licensee learns of exaggerated or false ideas held by a client or other person, the licensee must take immediate and reasonable action to correct the ideas held.

(d)A licensee must make reasonable efforts to discourage others whom the licensee does not control from making misrepresentations; exaggerated or false claims; or false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements about the licensee's practice, services, qualifications, associations, or activities. If a licensee learns of a misrepresentation; exaggerated or false claim; or false, deceptive, or fraudulent statement made by another, the licensee must take reasonable action to correct the statement.

(e)Technological means of communication may be used to facilitate the therapeutic counseling process.

(f)A licensee may take reasonable action to inform medical or law enforcement personnel if the licensee determines there is a probability of imminent physical injury by the client to the client or others, or there is a probability of immediate mental or emotional injury to the client.

(g)The licensee must take reasonable precautions to protect clients from physical or emotional harm resulting from interaction:

  (1)within a group; or

  (2)individual counseling.

(h)A licensee must not evaluate any individual's mental, emotional, or behavioral condition unless the licensee has personally interviewed the individual or the licensee discloses in the evaluation the licensee has not personally interviewed the individual.

(i)A licensee must not knowingly overtreat a client.

(j)A licensee must not aid or abet the unlicensed practice of professional counseling by a person required to be licensed under the Act.

(k)A licensee must report to the Council knowledge of any unlicensed practice of counseling.

(l)A licensee or an applicant must not participate in the falsification of any materials submitted to the Council.

(m)A licensee must not provide services while impaired by a physical, mental, or medical condition or by medication, drugs or alcohol.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on September 1, 2023

TRD-202303228

Darrel D. Spinks

Executive Director

Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors

Effective date: September 21, 2023

Proposal publication date: March 31, 2023

For further information, please call: (512) 305-7706



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