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Addiction Counseling Competencies
Uses of The Competencies
Kathryn Miller, Ph.D., associate professor at San Antonio College, used The Competencies as the
basis for the article “A Resource for Addiction Counseling: LCDCs in Texas” published in the Texas
Counseling Association Journal. The article explains to graduate-level counselors the scope of
chemical dependency counseling practice and encourages cooperation between counseling
generalists and specialists.
Competency 65:
Apply confidentiality rules and regulations appropriately.
Knowledge
uX Federal, State, and local confidentiality
rules and regulations, especially as they
apply to substance abuse treatment,
health care, mental health care, child
welfare, and criminal justice.
u How to apply confidentiality rules and
regulations to documentation and sharing
of client information.
u Ethical standards related to confidentiality
rules and regulations.
u Clients’ rights and responsibilities.
u How to apply confidentiality rules and
regulations in emergency situations
(medical/suicide prevention/mandatory
reports of child abuse or neglect
situations).
Skills
uX Explaining and applying confidentiality
rules and regulations.
u Obtaining informed consent.
u Communicating with the client,
family and significant others, and other
service providers within the boundaries
of existing confidentiality rules and
regulations.
u Communicating the need for client referral
information in emergency situations and
documenting these encounters.
Attitudes
uX Recognition of the importance of
confidentiality rules and regulations.
u Respect for a client’s right to privacy.
u Recognition of the need to seek support
or supervision in client health and safety
emergency situations.
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