Final answer:
The process used to inform clients or research participants about the treatment or experiment they will undergo, including risks, is called informed consent. It is a fundamental ethical requirement in therapy, counseling, and research, ensuring that participants are fully informed before giving consent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before therapy or counseling begins, clients may be given information about the treatment they will receive, as well as possible risks involved. This process is called informed consent. Informed consent is the process of informing a client or research participant about what to expect during a session or experiment, any risks involved, and the implications of the therapy, treatment, or research. They must then give their consent to participate. This ensures that all risks and benefits are clearly outlined and that participants are fully informed before consenting to be part of a study or therapy.
Failure to provide informed consent can lead to ethical violations. For example, if inmates in a correctional facility are offered good behavior credit in return for participation without being fully informed, or if participants in a study are misled about the nature of the treatment they're receiving—such as overpromising the effects of a new medication without disclosing that some will receive placebos. Properly conducted informed consent protects the safety and autonomy of the participants.