Which core function involves using data to inform treatment processes and client progress?

The core function that involves using data to inform treatment processes and client progress is report and record keeping. This function is essential in the counseling process as it ensures that accurate and timely information is collected and documented throughout a client’s treatment journey. Through systematic record keeping, a counselor can track changes in the client's behavior, response to treatment, and overall progress. This data serves multiple purposes: it helps in assessing the effectiveness of the treatment plan, enables communication with other professionals involved in the client's care, and supports decision-making regarding future interventions.

In contrast, consultation with other professionals generally focuses on discussing client situations to ensure comprehensive care rather than strictly managing data. Referral is about directing clients to additional services or specialists, and crisis intervention pertains to immediate response strategies in urgent situations, neither of which primarily centers on the collection and utilization of data to track client progress. Thus, report and record keeping is the most relevant core function when it comes to data management in the context of counseling.