Library · Domain 3. Treatment Planning & Continuity of Care · 3A. Treatment Planning
Task 3A.7
Reviewing the diagnosis with the client
“Review diagnosis with client” (NBCC, 2027 task 3A.7)
Clients have a right to know their diagnosis and what it means. Reviewing it openly supports informed consent, reduces fear and stigma, and helps clients take part in treatment decisions. The exam tests how to discuss a diagnosis responsibly, including its implications for records and insurance.
Key points
- Explain the diagnosis in plain language: what it is, which of the client's experiences it reflects, how common it is, and how it is usually treated.
- Discuss implications: the diagnosis appears in records and in claims to insurers, and may be shared with payers under HIPAA for payment purposes.
- Invite the client's reaction and questions; some clients feel relieved, others worried or stigmatized.
- Consider culture: the meaning of a mental health diagnosis varies, and some clients or families may see it as shameful.
- The ACA Code of Ethics (E.5) addresses taking special care to provide proper diagnosis, attending to culture, and the option to refrain from making or reporting a diagnosis if the counselor believes it would cause harm.
- Emphasize that a diagnosis describes a condition, not the person's identity.
- Revisit the diagnosis if it changes, and explain why.
In practice
A counselor tells a client that her symptoms fit generalized anxiety disorder, explains which of her experiences match the criteria, and describes CBT as an effective treatment. The client says she feels relieved that what she has been living with has a name.
A client using insurance asks what the insurer will see. The counselor explains that a diagnosis code is required for claims and what information is typically shared, so the client can decide whether to use insurance or pay privately.
Check yourself
Why review the diagnosis with the client?
It supports informed consent, helps the client understand their experience, and allows participation in decisions.
What implication of a diagnosis should be discussed when the client uses insurance?
That the diagnosis will be reported to the insurer on claims and becomes part of the record.
How can a counselor reduce stigma when sharing a diagnosis?
By explaining it in plain language, emphasizing it describes a condition rather than the person, and inviting questions.
NBCC's knowledge and skills for 3A. Treatment Planning
Knowledge of: SMART goals; Biopsychosocial model; Short- vs. long-term goals; Goals vs. objectives; Counseling theories and interventions; DSM/ICD; Behavioral strategies across settings.
Skill in: Aligning appropriate intervention with client need/identity; Developing initial treatment plan; Reviewing and revising treatment plan; Case conceptualization; Goal-setting; Differential diagnosis.
A study guide written by ExamDragon from NBCC's published task; not NBCC material and not part of the exam.