Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

According to the CRC Code, how long must rehabilitation counselors wait after terminating a client relationship before they can pursue any romantic or sexual relationship with that client?

1. Two years

2. Three years

3. Five years

4. Indefinitely

The correct answer is: Five years

The correct answer is that rehabilitation counselors must wait five years after terminating a client relationship before pursuing any romantic or sexual relationship with that client. This guideline is established to maintain professional boundaries and to ensure that the integrity of the counseling relationship is upheld. The rationale behind this five-year waiting period emphasizes the potential for power imbalances and the need to protect clients from any possible exploitation or harm that could arise from the counselor's actions. This provision helps ensure that the counselor remains ethical in their professional conduct, recognizing that relationships with former clients can be complicated by the dynamics established during the counseling process. By enforcing a significant waiting period, the ethical standards seek to promote the welfare of clients and to safeguard the profession's integrity.