In the context of LPCC practice, what does the term "malpractice" refer to?

• A. Failure to adhere to administrative policies
• B. Professional negligence that results in harm to the client
• C. Providing services without a license
• D. Exceeding the scope of practice

Answer: (B)

The term "malpractice" specifically refers to professional negligence, which occurs when a clinician fails to uphold the accepted standards of care within their profession, leading to harm or injury to the client. In the context of LPCC practice, this entails situations where a counselor's actions, decisions, or lack thereof directly cause detrimental effects on a client's well-being, often resulting in legal consequences.

For example, if a counselor inadequately assesses a client's risk of self-harm and this leads to an adverse outcome, the counselor can be deemed to have acted negligently. This is distinguished from simply failing to adhere to administrative policies or providing services without a license, which may not necessarily involve negligence in client care. Similarly, exceeding the scope of practice refers to performing duties beyond one's professional training, but it does not inherently imply harm has occurred. Thus, options related to administrative policies or licensing issues do not embody the core definition of malpractice, which is centered on the concept of negligence in professional duties resulting in client harm.