Client Rights

Recipient rights in therapy are crucial to ensuring ethical, respectful, and effective treatment. These rights provide a framework for protecting the well-being, dignity, and autonomy of individuals seeking therapy.

The right to be treated with consideration and respect for personal dignity, autonomy and privacy.
The right to reasonable protection from physical, sexual or emotional abuse and inhumane treatment.
The right to give informed consent to or to refuse any service.
The right to be free from restraint or seclusion unless there is immediate risk of physical harm to self or others.
The right to be informed and the right to refuse any unusual or hazardous procedures.
The right to be advised and the right to refuse observation by others and by techniques such as one-way vision mirrors, tape recorders, video recorders, television, movies, photographs or other audio and visual technology. This right does not prohibit an agency from using closed-circuit monitoring to observe seclusion rooms or common areas, which does not include bathrooms or sleeping areas.
The right to confidentiality of communications and personal identifying information within the limitations and requirements for disclosure of client information under state and federal laws and regulations.
The right to have access to one’s own client record.
The right to be informed of the reason for terminating participation in a service.
The right to be informed of the reason for denial of a service.
The right not to be discriminated against for receiving services on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, developmental disability, genetic information, human immunodeficiency virus status, or in any manner prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
The right to know the cost of services.
The right to be verbally informed of all client rights, and to receive a written copy upon request.
The right to exercise one’s own rights without reprisal, except that no right extends so far as to supersede health and safety considerations.
The right to file a grievance.
The right to have oral and written instructions concerning the procedure for filing a grievance, and to assistance in filing a grievance if requested.
The right to be informed of one’s own condition.
The right to consult with an independent treatment specialist or legal counsel at one’s own expense.