How is "informed consent" defined in the context of Maryland counseling?

In the context of Maryland counseling, informed consent is defined as providing clients with comprehensive information that enables them to make knowledgeable decisions about their treatment. This includes discussing the nature of the proposed treatment, its potential benefits and risks, alternatives, and the possible outcomes. The goal of informed consent is to foster a collaborative partnership between the counselor and client, ensuring that clients can make choices that align with their values and preferences, fully understanding what their participation entails.

The other responses do not accurately capture the essence of informed consent. For instance, explaining treatment benefits after the fact does not provide clients the opportunity to make an informed decision beforehand, undermining the concept of informed consent. A written contract is only part of the process and does not encompass the need for comprehensive communication and understanding. Allowing clients to choose therapy methods without guidance may lead to directions that lack the informed basis necessary for effective treatment, which is contrary to the intentions of informed consent.