Iowa Admin. Code r. 645-33.1

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 645-33.1 - Grounds for discipline

The board may impose any of the disciplinary sanctions provided in rule 645-33.3 (147,272C) when the board determines that the licensee is guilty of any of the following acts or offenses or those listed in 645-Chapter 13:

(1) Failure to comply with the national association's code of ethics.

a.Marital and family therapists. Failure to comply with the current American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Code of Ethics revised January 2015, which is hereby adopted by reference. Copies of the Code of Ethics may be obtained from the AAMFT's website.

b.Mental health counselors. Failure to comply with the current Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association (ACA) published 2014, which is hereby adopted by reference. Copies of the Code of Ethics may be obtained from the ACA website.

c.Behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts. Failure to comply with the current Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts published January 2023, which is hereby adopted by reference. Copies of the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code may be obtained from the BACB website.

(2) Sexual relationships.

a. Current clients. A licensee shall not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with a client, regardless of whether such contact is consensual or nonconsensual.

b. Former clients. A licensee shall not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with a former client within the five years following termination of the client relationship. A licensee shall not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with a former client, regardless of the length of time elapsed since termination of the client relationship, if the client has a history of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or if the client has ever been diagnosed with any form of psychosis or personality disorder or if the client is likely to remain in need of therapy due to the intensity or chronicity of a problem.

c. A licensee shall not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with a client's or former client's spouse or significant other.

d. A licensee shall not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with a client's or former client's relative within the second degree of consanguinity (client's parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, or sibling) when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to a client or former client.

e. A licensee shall not provide clinical services to an individual with whom the licensee has had prior sexual contact.

(3) Physical contact. A licensee shall not engage in physical contact with a client when there is a possibility of psychological harm to the client as a result of the contact. A licensee who engages in appropriate physical contact with a client is responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally and age-sensitive boundaries which govern such contact.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code chapters 17A, 147, 154D and 272C.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 645-33.1

Amended by IAB April 10, 2019/Volume XLI, Number 21, effective 3/22/2019

Amended by IAB July 17, 2019/Volume XLII, Number 2, effective 8/21/2019

Adopted by IAB May 1, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 22, effective 6/5/2024