1. What is HIPAA? Why is it relevant to the practice of professional counseling? What does it require? This discussion question meets the following NASAC Standards: 47) Inform the client of his/her confidentiality rights, program procedures that safeguard them, and the exceptions imposed by statute. 110) Protect client rights to privacy and confidentiality in the preparation and handling of records, especially in relation to the communication of client information with third parties.   2. Define Informed Consent. How would you describe informed consent to a client? What does it include? When is it needed in the therapeutic relationship? What additional information would need to be in the informed consent when providing distance counseling? Refer to section H.2.a of the ACA Code of Ethics.  This discussion question meets the following NASAC Standards:  47) Inform the client of his/her confidentiality rights, program procedures that safeguard them, and the exceptions imposed by statute.  110) Protect client rights to privacy and confidentiality in the preparation and handling of records, especially in relation to the communication of client information with third parties.  3. How would you explain a diagnosis to a client? Are there circumstances in which a diagnosis would not be appropriate to share with a client? This discussion question meets the following NASAC Standards: 9) Understand the established diagnostic criteria for substance dependence and abuse, and describe treatment modalities and placement criteria within the continuum of care. 30) Apply accepted criteria for diagnosis, and the use of modalities on the continuum of care, in making treatment recommendations.  4. There are many pros and cons in relation to mental health diagnosis. List some in supporting an argument for or against formal diagnostic protocols. Briefly explain the cross-cutting symptom measures in the DSM. Include at least two scholarly references. This discussion question meets the following NASAC Standards:  11) Tailor helping strategies and treatment modalities to the client's stage of dependency, change, or recovery 30) Apply accepted criteria for diagnosis, and the use of modalities on the continuum of care, in making treatment recommendations.  5. What are some of the areas of a client’s life that might help a counselor develop/identify patterns of mental illness in a case conceptualization? How does the client's developmental stage help guide treatment and interventions? This discussion question meets the following NASAC Standard: 25) Gather data systematically from the client and other available collateral sources, using screening instruments and other methods that are sensitive to age, culture and gender. At a minimum, data should include: current and historic substance use; health, mental health, and substance-related treatment history; mental status; and current social, environmental, and/or economic constraints on the client's ability to follow-thro.

1. 1. What is HIPAA? Why is it relevant to the practice of
professional counseling? What does it require? This discussion
question meets the following NASAC Standards: 47) Inform the
client of his/her confidentiality rights, program procedures that
safeguard them, and the exceptions imposed by statute. 110)
Protect client rights to privacy and confidentiality in the
preparation and handling of records, especially in relation to the
communication of client information with third parties.
2. Define Informed Consent. How would you describe informed
consent to a client? What does it include? When is it needed in
the therapeutic relationship? What additional information would
need to be in the informed consent when providing distance
counseling? Refer to section H.2.a of the ACA Code of Ethics.
This discussion question meets the following NASAC
Standards: 47) Inform the client of his/her confidentiality
rights, program procedures that safeguard them, and the
exceptions imposed by statute. 110) Protect client rights to
privacy and confidentiality in the preparation and handling of
records, especially in relation to the communication of client
information with third parties.
3. How would you explain a diagnosis to a client? Are there
circumstances in which a diagnosis would not be appropriate to
share with a client? This discussion question meets the
following NASAC Standards: 9) Understand the established
diagnostic criteria for substance dependence and abuse, and
describe treatment modalities and placement criteria within the
continuum of care. 30) Apply accepted criteria for diagnosis,
and the use of modalities on the continuum of care, in making
treatment recommendations.
4. There are many pros and cons in relation to mental health
diagnosis. List some in supporting an argument for or against
formal diagnostic protocols. Briefly explain the cross-cutting

2. symptom measures in the DSM. Include at least two scholarly
references. This discussion question meets the following
NASAC Standards: 11) Tailor helping strategies and treatment
modalities to the client's stage of dependency, change, or
recovery 30) Apply accepted criteria for diagnosis, and the use
of modalities on the continuum of care, in making treatment
recommendations.
5. What are some of the areas of a client’s life that might help a
counselor develop/identify patterns of mental illness in a case
conceptualization? How does the client's developmental stage
help guide treatment and interventions? This discussion
question meets the following NASAC Standard: 25) Gather data
systematically from the client and other available collateral
sources, using screening instruments and other methods that are
sensitive to age, culture and gender. At a minimum, data should
include: current and historic substance use; health, mental
health, and substance-related treatment history; mental status;
and current social, environmental, and/or economic constraints
on the client's ability to follow-through successfully with an
action plan.
6. How do patterns of mental illness differ according to
population? Name examples where one psychological symptom
could be interpreted in two different ways based on
age/gender/identified problem. This discussion question meets
the following NASAC Standards: 25) Gather data systematically
from the client and other available collateral sources, using
screening instruments and other methods that are sensitive to
age, culture and gender. At a minimum, data should include:
current and historic substance use; health, mental health, and
substance-related treatment history; mental status; and current
social, environmental, and/or economic constraints on the
client's ability to follow-through successfully with an action
plan. 33) Select and use comprehensive assessment instruments
that are sensitive to age, gender and culture, and which address:

3. (a) History of alcohol and other drug use (b) Health, mental
health, and substance-related treatment history (c) History of
sexual abuse or other physical, emotional, and verbal abuse,
and/or other significant trauma (d) Family issues (e) Work
history and career issues (f) Psychological, emotional, and
world-view concerns (g) Physical and mental health status (h)
Acculturation, assimilation, and cultural identification(s) (i)
Education and basic life skills (j) Socio-economic
characteristics, lifestyle, and current legal status (k) Use of
community resources (l) Behavioral indicators of problems in
the domains listed above. 34) Analyze and interpret the data to
determine treatment recommendations. 37) Obtain and interpret
all relevant assessment information.
7. Study the “Case Formulation and the Diagnostic Process”
media piece. Now, summarize the process of assessment,
diagnosing, and treatment in your own words. What are some
implications for not including the client in the creation of an
effective treatment plan? How does the therapist support the
client for beneficial behaviors to progress towards treatment
goals? This discussion question meets the following NASAC
Standards: 79) Encourage and reinforce all client actions that
are determined to be beneficial in progressing toward treatment
goals. 80) Work appropriately with the client to recognize and
discourage all behaviors inconsistent with progress toward
treatment goals.
8. How are treatment goals/objectives influenced by a
therapist’s theory of choice? Cite two examples of how the
counseling theory being utilized in therapy could dramatically
alter treatment goals. Give an example or describe a reason that
would prompt you to make a referral. This discussion question
meets the following CACREP Standard: 5.C.2.d. Diagnostic
process, including differential diagnosis and the use of current
diagnostic classification systems, including the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the

4. International Classification of Diseases (ICD). This discussion
question meets the following NASAC Standards: 52) Arrange
referrals to other professionals, agencies, community programs,
or other appropriate resources to meet client needs. 55)
Evaluate the outcome of the referral. 56) Initiate collaboration
with referral sources. 78) Work with the client to establish
realistic, achievable goals consistent with achieving and
maintaining recovery.
9. Why is it important for the client to collaborate in the
creation of the treatment plan? Who owns the treatment plan?
What if your goals are different from your client? Provide an
example to support your response. This discussion question
meets the following NASAC Standards: 11) Tailor helping
strategies and treatment modalities to the client's stage of
dependency, change, or recovery. 77) Facilitate the client's
engagement in the treatment/recovery process.
10. Are culturally sensitive treatment plans possible? Why or
Why not? How does the developmental stage of the client
influence the treatment plan? Please include at least two
scholarly journal articles in your posting. This discussion
question meets the following NASAC Standards: 12) Adapt
treatment services to the client's level of cultural and language
literacy, acculturation, or assimilation. 68) Understand and
recognize culturally appropriate stages of change and other
signs of treatment progress.
11. In Topic 5, you created a treatment plan for your client.
Create a SOAP note that would go in the client’s chart
following the visit. Post the SOAP note as a reply to this
discussion thread. For follow-up discussion, evaluate at least
two of your peers' SOAP notes. Would you have documented
anything differently? Why or why not? This discussion question
meets the following NASAC Standards: 70) Describe and
document treatment process, progress, and outcome. 94)

5. Describe and summarize client behavior within the group for the
purpose of documenting the client's progress and identifying
needs/issues that may require modification of the treatment
plan. 109) Demonstrate knowledge of accepted principles of
client record management.
12. In Topic 5, you created a treatment plan for your client. If
your client was to attend a group therapy session, write a
progress note for that client’s participation in that group. How
is writing a group progress note different than an individual
progress note? This discussion question meets the following
NASAC Standards: 70) Describe and document treatment
process, progress, and outcome. 94) Describe and summarize
client behavior within the group for the purpose of documenting
the client's progress and identifying needs/issues that may
require modification of the treatment plan. 109) Demonstrate
knowledge of accepted principles of client record management.
13. What are some red flags that would indicate client
resistance? How can you most effectively deal with resistance?
Will a client with substance use disorder be more resistant than
a client with a general mental health disorder? What would be
the impact in involving significant others in treatment? Explain
your response. This discussion question meets the following
NASAC Standards: 40) Examine treatment implications in
collaboration with the client and significant others. 41) Confirm
the readiness of the client and significant others to participate
in treatment. 71) Apply generally accepted measures of
treatment outcome. 72) Utilize referral skills, as described in
Section 3. 112) Prepare and record treatment and continuing
care plans that are consistent with agency standards and comply
with applicable administrative rules.
14. What tools can you use to help motivate the client and keep
them on track with their stated goals? What types of
interventions might be appropriate to help the client become
more focused or motivated? What are the indicators the client is

6. stuck? This discussion question meets the following NASAC
Standards: 71) Apply generally accepted measures of treatment
outcome. 72) Utilize referral skills, as described in Section 3.
77) Facilitate the client's engagement in the treatment/recovery
process. 78) Work with the client to establish realistic,
achievable goals consistent with achieving and maintaining
recovery. 113) Record progress of the client in relation to
treatment goals and objectives. 115) Document the treatment
outcome, using accepted methods and instruments. 15. Why is it
important to consider the first session the beginning of
discharge planning? Why is it important to prepare an accurate
and consistent discharge summary? Be sure to include ethical
considerations and involvement of the client. This discussion
question meets the following NASAC Standards: 73) Conduct
continuing care, relapse prevention, and discharge planning
with the client and involved significant others. 74) Assure the
accurate documentation of case management activities
throughout the course of treatment. 75) Apply placement,
continued stay, and discharge criteria for each modality on the
continuum of care. 114) Prepare an accurate, concise,
informative, and current discharge summary.
16. How would you prepare a client for discharge? What
information should be discussed in sessions leading up to
termination? This assignment meets the following NASAC
Standards: 73) Conduct continuing care, relapse prevention,
and discharge planning with the client and involved significant
others. 114) Prepare an accurate, concise, informative, and
current discharge summary. 115) Document the treatment
outcome, using accepted methods and instruments.
Each question needs to be answered with 150-200 words each
and have a cite in the answer.