Can a counselor deny a service based on a client’s criminal history?

The correct answer is that a counselor can deny a service based on a client’s criminal history only if the history poses a risk to others. This distinction recognizes the importance of client safety and wellbeing while also balancing legal and ethical obligations.

Counselors are tasked with ensuring that the therapeutic environment is safe for all clients involved. If a client has a criminal history that directly indicates a potential risk of harm to others—such as violent offenses or patterns of behavior that might threaten the safety of others—a counselor may justifiably decide to deny services. This decision would typically follow a careful assessment, ensuring that the counselor is acting in accordance with the ethical standards set by professional bodies and relevant state laws.

In situations where the criminal history does not raise immediate concerns about safety, counselors are generally expected to provide services without discrimination. Therefore, options suggesting an outright denial based on criminal history without consideration of the associated risks or client requests do not align with the ethical and legal framework governing counseling practice.