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Client Rights

PURPOSE:  To insure and protect the rights of persons receiving treatment through Kelly Consulting Services and Serenity Counseling & Consulting Services located at Blue Ridge Counseling in accordance with CLIENT RIGHTS RULES IN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES 10A NORTH CAROLINA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 27C, 27D, 27E, 27F and applicable laws and regulations.

Client Rights:

  • Clients are entitled to receive services offered by Kelly Consulting Services (KCS), Serenity Counseling & Consulting Services (SCCS) and Blue Ridge Counseling (BRC) regardless of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, and degree of disability, as long as KCS/SCCS/BRC has the capabilities and/or facilities to provide the treatment indicated.
  • Clients have a right to confidentiality. Client records are available to KCS/SCCS/BRC staff members only as needed for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
  • No client information may be released to any other agency or individual without prior written authorization of client, parent or legal guardian. This includes any form of protected health information (for example, correspondence, treatment plan, or conversation in or out of KCS/SCCS/BRC clinics). EXCEPTION to this would be the release of information needed for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, by court order, or in emergency situations involving your safety or the safety of others. In any case, only the information required to deal with the situation may be released.
  • Clients have the right to obtain access to personal health information as stated in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
  • Photographs and sound or video recordings may not be made of client without written permission.
  • Clients have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
  • Clients have a right to a program of treatment especially designed for their individual needs. Treatment services will be provided only when those services are applicable to treatment needs.
  • Clients have a right to appropriate assessment of pain in determining treatment needs.
  • Clients have a right to refuse treatment offered, unless there is an immediate danger to the client or others. However, if client refuses to cooperate or participate in a recommended treatment (for example, counseling or day treatment when receiving medication), KCS/SCCS/BRC may limit services.
  • Clients have a right to be informed of risks, benefits, and side effects of treatment.
  • Clients have a right to reasonable privacy during treatment.
  • Clients have a right to a written copy of the KCS/SCCS/BRC Privacy Practices.
  • Clients have the right to terminate services and to receive notice before KCS/SCCS/BRC terminates or suspends services.
  • Clients have a right to complain if they believe their rights or the rights of someone else have been violated.

Client Responsibilities:  In addition to rights while receiving treatment, the client also has a number of responsibilities to self and to KCS/SCCS/BRC.

  • Clients have the responsibility to participate actively and honestly in treatment. In many cases, particularly when the client is a child or adolescent, effective treatment requires active involvement and participation of parents or other family members.
  • Clients have the responsibility to keep scheduled appointments or to give notice of cancellation if client will be unable to keep an appointment.
  • Clients have the responsibility to treat other clients and KCS/SCCS/BRC personnel with dignity and respect.
  • Clients are responsible for asking questions about any policy, procedure, or treatment which they do not understand or with which they do not agree.
  • Clients are responsible for carefully reading and understanding any papers they may be asked to sign in relation to treatment.
  • Clients have the responsibility to honor their financial contract by paying for the services received at the agreed-upon times and/or terms. The client is also responsible for providing KCS/SCCS/BRC with all information necessary for billing health insurance or other third party insurance.

I understand that I have a right to contact the agencies below at any time to discuss my complaint/grievance:

North Carolina Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse Services – www.ncdhhs.gov/mhddsas – Advocacy and Customer Service Section: 919-715-3197 – DHHS CARE-LINE: 1-800-662-7030 (Voice/Spanish)

State Office of DWI Services –  http://www.ncdhhs.gov/mhddsas/dwi – 3008 Mail Service Center – Raleigh, NC 27699-3008 – Ph: 919-733-0566 Fax: 919-508-0963 – Lynn B. Jones (lynn.b.jones@dhhs.nc.gov) – Jason Reynolds (jason.reynolds@dhhs.nc.gov) – Marcie Blevins (marcie.blevins@dhh.nc.gov) – Shenita Wilder (shenita.wilder@dhhs.nc.gov)

North Carolina Substance Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board – http://www.ncsappb.org – P.O. Box 10126 Raleigh, NC 27605 – Ph: 919-832-0975 Fax: 919-833-5743 – Barden Culbreth, Executive Director

North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors – http://www.ncblcmhc.org – P.O. Box 1369 Garner, NC 27529 – Ph: 919-661-0820 Fax: 919-779-5642

Disability Rights NC – http://www.disabilityrightsnc.org – 2626 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 550, Raleigh, NC, 27608 – (877) 235-4210 or (919) 856-2195 – Email: info@disabilityrightsnc.org

Partners Behavioral Health Management – https://partnersbhm.alertline.og – 901 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia, NC 28054 – (866) 806-8777 or (877) 864-1454 – Attention: Privacy Officer