Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

A client has the right to access any treatment information except for:

1. The Assessment

2. Unedited progress notes

3. The Treatment recommendation

4. The Discharge Summary

The correct answer is: Unedited progress notes

Clients generally have the right to access their treatment information as part of their rights to informed consent and to understand their health care. However, there are exceptions to this access in order to protect sensitive information and the therapeutic process. Unedited progress notes, which reflect a clinician's raw observations, thoughts, and feelings about a client's treatment, often include subjective interpretations and personal insights that, if revealed, could harm the therapeutic relationship or cause distress to the client. This type of documentation is designed to be a candid reflection of the treatment process that may not be suitable for client consumption without professional context or insight. Therefore, therapists are typically allowed to restrict access to these unedited notes to maintain the integrity of the therapeutic process and to ensure that clients are not exposed to potentially harmful interpretations. In contrast, clients have the right to access their assessment, treatment recommendations, and discharge summary, as these documents are integral to their understanding of their diagnosis, treatment plan, and the rationale behind the services provided. These materials aim to facilitate transparency in the client's treatment journey, enabling informed decision-making and ongoing participation in their care.