ICD-10 Code for Counseling
Also indexed as (for)
The ICD-10-CM code for counseling is Z71.9 — Counseling, unspecified. This is the code the Alphabetic Index gives for counseling with no further qualifier, valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
BillableUnspecified
Z71.9 is billable but unspecified. If the documentation names a type, site or cause, one of the more specific codes below is likely expected.
Which counseling code should you use?
The Alphabetic Index lists 42 codes under Counseling. Which one applies depends on the qualifier documented in the record — the type, site, cause, or associated condition. Find the qualifier below, then verify the code in the Tabular List before using it.
By type
| alcohol abuser | Z71.41 | Alcohol abuse counseling and surveillance of alcoholic | |
| consanguinity | Z71.89 | Other specified counseling | |
| contraceptive | Z30.09 | Encounter for other general counseling and advice on contraception | |
| dietary | Z71.3 | Dietary counseling and surveillance | |
| drug abuser | Z71.51 | Drug abuse counseling and surveillance of drug abuser | |
| exercise | Z71.82 | Exercise counseling | |
| family | Z71.89 | Other specified counseling | |
| fertility preservation | Z31.62 | Encounter for fertility preservation counseling | |
| for non-attending third party | Z71.0 | Person encountering health services to consult on behalf of another person | |
| gestational carrier | Z31.7 | Encounter for procreative management and counseling for gestational carrier | |
| human immunodeficiency virus | Z71.7 | Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] counseling | |
| immunization safety | Z71.85 | Encounter for immunization safety counseling | |
| impotence | Z70.1 | Counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation | |
| insulin pump use | Z46.81 | Encounter for fitting and adjustment of insulin pump | |
| medical | Z71.9 | Counseling, unspecified | |
| pediatric-to-adult transition | Z71.87 | Encounter for pediatric-to-adult transition counseling | |
| procreative NEC | Z31.69 | Encounter for other general counseling and advice on procreation | |
| promiscuity | Z70.1 | Counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation | |
| rape victim | Z69.81 | Encounter for mental health services for victim of other abuse | |
| religious | Z71.81 | Spiritual or religious counseling | |
| safety for travel | Z71.84 | Encounter for health counseling related to travel | |
| sex, sexual | Z70.9 | Sex counseling, unspecified | |
| socioeconomic factors | Z71.88 | Encounter for counseling for socioeconomic factors | |
| specified reason NEC | Z71.89 | Other specified counseling | |
| spiritual | Z71.81 | Spiritual or religious counseling | |
| spousal abuse | Z69.12 | Encounter for mental health services for perpetrator of spousal or partner abuse | |
| substance abuse | Z71.89 | Other specified counseling | |
| tobacco use | Z71.6 | Tobacco abuse counseling | |
| travel | Z71.84 | Encounter for health counseling related to travel | |
| vaccine product safety | Z71.85 | Encounter for immunization safety counseling |
Counseling abuse NEC
Counseling alcohol abuser
| family | Z71.42 | Counseling for family member of alcoholic |
Counseling drug abuser
| family member | Z71.52 | Counseling for family member of drug abuser |
Counseling for non-attending third party
| related to sexual behavior or orientation | Z70.2 | Counseling related to sexual behavior and orientation of third party |
Counseling genetic
Counseling health
| risk for travel | Z71.84 | Encounter for health counseling related to travel |
Counseling medical
| boarding school resident | Z59.3 | Problems related to living in residential institution | |
| consanguinity | Z71.89 | Other specified counseling | |
| feared complaint and no disease found | Z71.1 | Person with feared health complaint in whom no diagnosis is made | |
| human immunodeficiency virus | Z71.7 | Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] counseling | |
| institutional resident | Z59.3 | Problems related to living in residential institution | |
| on behalf of another | Z71.0 | Person encountering health services to consult on behalf of another person | |
| person living alone | Z60.2 | Problems related to living alone | |
| specified reason NEC | Z71.89 | Other specified counseling | |
| on behalf of another › related to sexual behavior or orientation | Z70.2 | Counseling related to sexual behavior and orientation of third party |
Counseling natural family planning
Counseling perpetrator
| abuse NEC | Z69.82 | Encounter for mental health services for perpetrator of other abuse | |
| rape NEC | Z69.82 | Encounter for mental health services for perpetrator of other abuse | |
| spousal abuse | Z69.12 | Encounter for mental health services for perpetrator of spousal or partner abuse | |
| child abuse › non-parental | Z69.021 | Encounter for mental health services for perpetrator of non-parental child abuse | |
| child abuse › parental | Z69.011 | Encounter for mental health services for perpetrator of parental child abuse |
Counseling procreative NEC
Counseling sex, sexual
| attitude | Z70.0 | Counseling related to sexual attitude | |
| behavior or orientation | Z70.1 | Counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation | |
| combined concerns | Z70.3 | Counseling related to combined concerns regarding sexual attitude, behavior and orientation | |
| non-responsiveness | Z70.1 | Counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation | |
| on behalf of third party | Z70.2 | Counseling related to sexual behavior and orientation of third party | |
| specified reason NEC | Z70.8 | Other sex counseling |
Counseling spousal abuse
| victim | Z69.11 | Encounter for mental health services for victim of spousal or partner abuse |
Counseling substance abuse
Counseling use
| insulin pump | Z46.81 | Encounter for fitting and adjustment of insulin pump |
Counseling victim
| abuse | Z69.81 | Encounter for mental health services for victim of other abuse | |
| rape NEC | Z69.81 | Encounter for mental health services for victim of other abuse | |
| child abuse › by parent | Z69.010 | Encounter for mental health services for victim of parental child abuse | |
| child abuse › non-parental | Z69.020 | Encounter for mental health services for victim of non-parental child abuse |
Counseling child abuse
| nonparental › perpetrator | Z69.021 | Encounter for mental health services for perpetrator of non-parental child abuse | |
| nonparental › victim | Z69.020 | Encounter for mental health services for victim of non-parental child abuse | |
| parental › perpetrator | Z69.011 | Encounter for mental health services for perpetrator of parental child abuse | |
| parental › victim | Z69.010 | Encounter for mental health services for victim of parental child abuse |
Index terms and codes are reproduced from the official ICD-10-CM FY2027 release. The Alphabetic Index is a finding aid — a code must always be verified in the Tabular List before it is reported. Data sources