SECTION 86:15-3-1. Responsibility to clients

(a)   LMFTs are dedicated to advancing the welfare of families and individuals, including respecting the rights of those persons seeking their assistance, and making reasonable efforts to ensure that their services are used appropriately.

(b)   LMFTs shall not, in the rendering of their professional services, participate in, condone, or promote discrimination based on age, culture, disability, ethnicity, race, religion/spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status/partnership, language preference, socioeconomic status, or any basis proscribed by law. LMFTs do not discriminate against clients, students, employees, supervisees, or research participants in a manner that has a negative impact on these persons.

(c)   LMFTs are cognizant of their potentially influential position with respect to clients, and they shall not exploit the trust and dependency of such persons. LMFTs therefore shall avoid extra therapeutic relationships with clients that could impair their professional judgment or increase the risk of exploitation. When extra-therapeutic relationships cannot be avoided, LMFTs shall take appropriate professional precautions to insure that judgment is not impaired and that no exploitation occurs. Examples of such extra therapeutic relationships include, but are not limited to, business or close personal relationships with clients.

(d)   LMFTs shall not undertake to provide therapy to any person with whom the LMFT has had any prior sexual conduct, as defined by the Board. LMFTs shall not undertake to provide therapy to any person with whom the LMFT has had familial, any prior social, financial, business, professional, close personal, or other non-therapeutic relationship with a client, or engage in any activity with another person that interferes or conflicts with the LMFTs professional obligation to a client within the previous five (5) years. Sexual intimacy with clients is prohibited.

(e)   Sexual conduct with current or former clients is prohibited.

(f)   LMFTs shall not use their professional relationship with clients to further their own interests.

(g)   LMFTs respect the right of clients to make decisions and help them to understand the consequences of those decisions. LMFTs shall clearly advise a client that a decision on marital status is the responsibility of the client.

(h)   LMFTs shall continue therapeutic relationships only so long as it is reasonably clear that clients are benefiting from the relationship.

(i)   LMFTs shall assist persons in obtaining other therapeutic services if a marital and family therapist is unable or unwilling, for appropriate reasons, to see a person who has requested professional help.

(j)   LMFTs shall not abandon or neglect clients in treatment without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of such treatment by other appropriate professionals as necessary and indicated.

(k)   When an LMFT becomes cognizant of a disability or other condition that may impede, undermine or otherwise interfere with the LMFTs duty of responsibility to the client, including a suspension of the LMFTs license or any other situation or condition described in subchapter 3 of these rules, the LMFT shall promptly notify the client in writing of the presence or existence of the disability or condition and take reasonable steps to timely terminate the therapeutic relationship consistent with the provisions of paragraphs (i) and (j) herein.

(l)   LMFTs shall obtain informed consent of clients before taping, recording, or permitting third party observation of their activities.

[Source: Added at 32 Ok Reg 159, eff 4-23-14 (emergency); Added at 32 Ok Reg 1569, eff 9-11-15; Amended at 36 Ok Reg 500, eff 7-25-19; Amended at 37 Ok Reg 1032, eff 9-11-20]