Deck 2: Law Ethics

Question 1

In order to practice ethically, you must be willing to provide your clients with statements that comprise informed consent. Which of the following is not something that might be included in informed consent?

A)The fee charged for your services
B)Your scope of practice, degrees, and credentials
C)Your personal contact information (phone number, email, etc.)
D)The procedure to follow in the event of a psychiatric emergency

Answer 1

Your personal contact information (phone number, email, etc.)

Question 2

Which of the following does not require that the therapist break confidentiality?

A)If the client is about to commit a crime that the therapist has suspicion to be true
B)If the client or any affected party discloses physical, sexual, or verbal abuse
C)If the client has any plan to commit suicide
D)If the client discloses that s/he has committed a crime

Answer 2

If the client discloses that s/he has committed a crime

Question 3

Eric's parents recently divorced. His behavior is beginning to worry teachers at school, so they refer him to some therapy resources in town. When he arrives in your office and you are obtaining consent for treatment, which parent is required to give consent for his treatment?

A)The parent(s) who hold(s) legal custody
B)The parent(s) who hold(s) physical custody
C)The parent with whom the child spends the most time
D)Whatever gets the child the help that he needs

Answer 3

The parent(s) who hold(s) legal custody

Question 4

You made a really nice impression on Eric's parents. You're a therapist who knows his/her stuff and they felt very comfortable. Since Eric is only five, the parents ask you what you will be able to share with them about what is said in session. You explain that:

A)You will release everything, since Eric is under thirteen
B)You will release only what is required by law and only by legal order
C)You will discuss what you believe could benefit Eric in his treatment
D)You never discuss client issues, no matter the age, outside of session

Question 5

Happy-Go-Lucky Harry has been your client for several years. You can often tell when something is bothering him. Today you ask him what seems to be bothering him, since he is agitated and has difficulty speaking. "Well, I've been thinking a lot about how I have a hard time living with my sister-in-law's constant nagging at both my brother and me. Sometimes it would be easier if she just weren't around." This case would/would not fall under the "duty to warn" because:

A)No, because a homicidal plan has not been shared.
B)Yes, because Harry has a history of homicidal ideation.
C)Yes, because Harry has direct access to the victim.
D)No, because you know Harry doesn't really mean what he said.

Question 6

Your client, Michael asks you to make contact with his primary care doctor to discuss with him the progress that Michael is making in treatment. You agree to make the phone call, but first you:

A)Warn Michael about what he's asking you to share
B)Ask Michael to sign a consent form
C)Make sure that the doctor is expecting your call
D)Edit your notes, so they will be legible

Question 7

In the age of digital communication, it is really easy to have conversations via e-mail. When conducting therapy with clients, it is important to consider that:

A)E-mail is not considered a "safe" method of communication.
B)If others were to read the e-mail, even by accident, it could violate privacy laws.
C)There is no way to guarantee the safety of e-mail communication.
D)All of the above

Question 8

Client A is paying with insurance and is charged $115 per hour. Client B pays cash and is charged $85 per hour. What is happening in this situation is:

A)Unethical. All clients should be paying the same fee.
B)In most cases illegal. A case could be made for insurance fraud.
C)Failing to adhere to standard disclosure practices about fee for service.
D)All of the above

Question 9

When a situation falls under duty to warn, the therapist's duty is discharged when he has notified:

A)The intended victim or victims and local law enforcement
B)Law enforcement and any local media outlets
C)The intended victim and next of kin
D)None of the above

Question 10

Mental health professionals are expected to exercise "reasonable care" when working with patients. Which of the following is an example of reasonable care?

A)Making appropriate, unbiased referrals
B)Leaving the room when the client has an emotional episode
C)Returning a client's phone call within one week
D)Pushing for answers to what the therapist considers clinically important questions

Question 11

When Barry can no longer afford therapy, but sees himself making progress, he makes a proposal: Would it be possible for him to mow your lawn and landscape your garden instead? What would the most appropriate response be to his inquiry?

A)Thank him for his thoughtfulness and accept the offer
B)Explain to him how it constitutes a dual relationship
C)Let him know that it can only be a temporary arrangement
D)Pretend like he never asked the question

Question 12

Which of the following is a practice that is both ethical and professionally enriching?

A)Sharing your opinion on the current political system
B)Writing about your client's cases while disguising their names
C)Beginning a romantic relationship with a client
D)Consulting with colleagues and other professionals

Question 13

You have been a therapist for six years and haven't taken a vacation yet. While you admit it's poor self-care, you've finally booked a trip to Hawaii. What steps must you take when an interruption in therapy is imminent?

A)Terminate therapy to avoid interrupting service
B)Give advanced notice and make necessary referrals for emergency service
C)Pass the case off to another therapist entirely; start a new caseload after vacation
D)Give the client enough homework to last your vacation

Question 14

Some might say that the best defense against a malpractice lawsuit is:

A)Meticulous record-keeping
B)An attorney who specializes in psychotherapy
C)Never taking too many therapeutic risks
D)Recording every session

Question 15

When it comes to record-keeping, which one of the following is required?

A)Two sets of notes for each client
B)Progress notes, summarizing clinical information
C)Process notes, summarizing session notes
D)Complete disclosure to any judicial body

Question 16

Which of the following represents what has come to be common knowledge with regard to law and ethics in the field of psychotherapy?

A)If it isn't documented, it didn't happen
B)Documentation may prevent something from happening
C)Documentation could make something needed happen
D)Create the best story to cover your legal bases

Question 17

When working as a therapist, getting your own therapy:

A)Can be damaging, given potential to unveil issues
B)Can improve professional insight and awareness
C)Makes little difference
D)Can be dangerous, since it will play out in your own sessions

Question 18

Your therapist is being a bit too cooperative with you. He's agreeing with everything that you say and letting you know that he's in accord with however you'd like to proceed with therapy. Clearly, this therapist is having issues with:

A)Continuing therapy
B)Financial obligations.
C)Boundaries
D)Countertransference

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of ethical treatment of transference?

A)Denial, rejection, forgetting
B)Recognition, normalizing, understanding
C)Ignoring, complaining, rejecting
D)Termination

Question 20

When choosing a therapist, a client is entitled to a therapist who can engage in any necessary discussions on culture and ethnicity, particularly:

A)With regard to the medical model
B)Underrepresented groups
C)Cultural tunnel vision
D)Cultural pluralism

Question 21

When someone is required to attend a group, either by court order or as a result of an agreement, what are his/her options when it comes to participating in therapy?

A)Refuse to participate once s/he arrives
B)Like anyone else, s/he may choose not to come
C)Talk about how s/he doesn't believe s/he needs therapy
D)All of the above

Question 22

You have been treating Roberta for six months, helping her to grieve the death of her father. After the six months, Roberta shows significant signs of improvement. However, you want to make more progress with Roberta and would hate to lose her as a client. Your ethical obligation is to:

A)Terminate therapy
B)Modify the progress you've seen in the client
C)Continue therapy as if nothing is happening
D)Let Roberta know about the other issues you see

Question 23

Your fee is $125/hour. Bobby calls, asking if he can stop by your office for an unscheduled appointment. Your last appointment of the day has just arrived, and you were planning on going home to a nice, relaxing evening. Ethically, how do you proceed?

A)Absolutely not; personal time is personal.
B)Take the appointment; money is money.
C)Assess for emergency and make appropriate judgment.
D)See the client for a shorter period of time.

Question 24

You have been helping your client, Shrinking Violet with issues of self-esteem, self-confidence, and social skills. You are beginning to see progress and ask her what progress she sees. She responds that "Therapy has changed my outlook; I finally have someone who cares about me and listens to me." What ethical question does her response present?

A)It didn't quite address her progress.
B)Her discomfort in discussing her treatment.
C)She is seeing you more as a replacement friend than a helping professional.
D)None of these

Question 25

Reggie is a white male, 72 years old, who lives alone. You have seen him for three weeks when he begins to talk about how he misses his wife, how he wishes she were here, or that he could sometimes join her in heaven. Given Reggie's statement, your ethical obligation is to:

A)Encourage Reggie to be more social
B)Assess for suicide
C)Find ways for Reggie to connect with others
D)Make sure Reggie has a ride home

Question 26

Laws surrounding the electronic transmission of healthcare data, the portability of healthcare insurance, as well as the registration of practitioners, clients, and other providers in a national identifier system are collectively known as:

A)HIPAA
B)MHSA
C)NIMH
D)HHS

Question 27

During one of your sessions, a client begins asking about a certain medication that she has heard about that could be effective for her. Ethically, in order to stay within your scope of practice, you are able to discuss:

A)Nothing about medication; refer her to her MD.
B)The importance of medication compliance for what has already been prescribed
C)How much medication she has been taking on a regular basis
D)What medications would be right for the client

Question 28

You make the following note in your records:
10 August 2004: Met with client in order to discuss the importance of developing more intimate relationships as it relates to his goal of having a more fulfilling personal life. Client was resistant to exploration of how much interest he has in developing relationships outside of his immediate family. Next appointment, 17 August 2004.
When it comes to record keeping, what is this?

A)Progress note
B)Process note
C)Summary of treatment
D)Variation on depth notes

Question 29

When writing a summary of treatment, which of the following is generally not included?

A)Dates of treatment
B)Diagnosis
C)Prognosis
D)Detailed therapeutic information

Question 30

If a client presents with the following diagnoses and environmental factors, what issues could be seen as medically in need of treatment? Adjustment Disorder
Hypertension
Social stressors
GAF of 84

A)The client no longer meets medical necessity
B)The Adjustment Disorder, if it has not been resolved to client satisfaction
C)The GAF, which needs to be much lower
D)The hypertension, because its effect on psychological health is a significant risk

Question 31

When a family is being treated as an individual unit, what control can a therapist exert on the behavior of one or more members in order to bring about the necessary change?

A)As much as is needed to facilitate change
B)As much as the family will allow
C)None; change comes from the family's adaptation to changing understanding
D)As much as is required to bring about self-reliance

Question 32

Maintenance of confidentiality in the family setting is:

A)Almost impossible
B)A lot more work than with individuals
C)Not worth pursuing, since family members talk anyway
D)Not the job of the therapist as much as it is the family being treated

Question 33

When working with couples, a lot of stress and undue strain on the relationship can be avoided if the therapist has a ________ policy:

A)No harm
B)No refund
C)No confidentiality
D)No secrets

Question 34

As a family therapist, you will treat the family as a system. When working with a system, you are ethically obligated to:

A)Share everything across the system
B)Make your allegiances to each individual well-known
C)Decide on how best to talk with each person individually
D)Terminate treatment at the correct interval

Question 35

One issue that is not always considered when a family agrees to be seen together for family therapy is that:

A)An individual may withdraw at any time
B)There may be multiple issues to work out
C)Benefit may sometimes be limited to one person
D)Therapy may not lead to ultimate benefit

Question 36

In order to aid in self-awareness, a practitioner who is working with LGBT individuals must:

A)Play devil's advocate
B)Reflect social stigmas in order to build resistance
C)Change their assumptions and attitudes about LGBT individuals
D)Change their moral perspective on LGBT issues

Question 37

Which of the following is not a limitation of confidentiality? In other words, when must confidentiality be maintained?

A)Unplanned pregnancy
B)Threat of suicide
C)Threat of homicide
D)Disclosure of past child abuse

Question 38

Which of the following might be one of the most important ethical considerations or limitations of telemedicine (i.e. online counseling)?

A)Length of sessions
B)Limited access to assessment during an emergency or crisis
C)Connection issues
D)What the client will expect from an online therapist

Question 39

Involuntary commitment can sometimes be indicated when one presents with:

A)Intent to harm oneself
B)Delusional stories
C)Auditory hallucinations
D)Emotional turmoil

Question 40

You have been treating Ben for about twelve weeks. After twelve weeks, it is determined that Ben must be hospitalized in order to stabilize. Ben is hospitalized for a period of three weeks. During these three weeks, Ben's psychiatrist and others have been trying to reach you, but have been unsuccessful. You are currently at risk for:

A)Losing a client
B)Therapeutic dissonance
C)Improper care
D)Client abandonment

Question 41

As a Marriage and Family Therapist, one may assist clients in interpreting results from psychoeducational exams only if:

A)One has been appropriately trained in the purpose, use, and interpretation of the exam
B)One has been subjected to the exams previously
C)There are reasons to believe the tests were necessary
D)There are no other professionals available to provide the service

Question 42

A client comes to you asking your opinion on whether or not she should seek the services of a career counselor instead of continuing to see you regularly. You know that this could mean the loss of a client. Nonetheless, you explain to the client:

A)The danger of using a career counselor for these issues
B)The role and scope of a career counselor as alternative treatment
C)Random assignment of other providers is not allowed
D)Insurance will not cover visits to a career counselor

Question 43

A parent has been coming to you for therapy for over two years now. He has really been able to open up and access some important issues and has made significant progress. He would like to know if you would be willing to write a letter supporting supervised visits with his children. You explain:

A)That he'd be better off hiring a more expensive attorney
B)Why the letter is a bad idea
C)How the judge is likely to view such a letter
D)What information would need to be shared in order to write a letter for him

Question 44

You receive a call from the primary care physician who is treating one of your clients. He has the results of a lab test that he had run last week to determine the client's level of liver function. He reports that the news is not good and that you should be prepared in your next session to discuss it. Before acknowledging anything, you must have:

A)A signed consent to release information
B)A signed consent to receive information
C)A and B
D)Neither

Question 45

When counseling in a school setting, which of the following sets of ethics usually applies?

A)HIPAA
B)FERPA
C)ASCA
D)AAMFT

Question 46

Bryan and Brianna are siblings at the same school. You are treating Bryan for an adjustment issue and he tells you that he has been contemplating stealing exam questions from his history teacher. When you see Brianna, you are obligated to:

A)Inquire about stolen history questions
B)Inquire about her brother's study habits
C)Inquire about the last time the family hired a tutor
D)Say nothing

Question 47

Therapists who make warnings to the police and to intended victims of crimes in order to prevent the crimes from taking place are:

A)Granted immunity during any trial or proceeding
B)Questioned in relationship to the case
C)Released without further incident
D)Held responsible, no matter what

Question 48

Just like when clients are reporting that they intend on harming an identified victim, individuals who are providing care have a duty to:

A)Release the individual, regardless of intent
B)Confine the individual who may be at risk for causing harm
C)Keep the person in sight at all times
D)Release the person only after they have been evaluated

Question 49

You have been seeing Veronica for about eight weeks now. You receive a phone call from her parents and while you don't share any details, you do assure them that therapy is progressing relatively smoothly. In your next session with Veronica, you:

A)Avoid the subject all-together
B)Only bring it up if she brings it up
C)Talk directly to her about the fact that her parents called
D)Tell her she has nothing to worry about

Question 50

Do people who are terminally ill have the right to decide on when, how, and where they will die? As therapists, our role in this question is:

A)To advocate against it at all times
B)To help clients make informed decisions about all aspects
C)To remind clients of their mortality through their sessions with us
D)To leave it to medical doctors, clients, and their lawyers

Question 51

You have an interview with an agency that appears desperate to hire a licensed therapist. When you arrive, you are told that the job involves working with quite a lot of alcohol and other drug use issues, including dual diagnosis. You have never had experience with this population. Ethically, what does this mean?

A)That you should continue looking for a placement that appreciates you for who you are
B)It means everything; necessary experience like this can't be learned in short time
C)It doesn't mean anything if you've had the training
D)You shouldn't be treating these people

Question 52

One of the risks involved in discussing alternatives to therapy is that clients:

A)Will choose an alternative, rather than therapy
B)Manipulate therapists to make promises they can't keep
C)Cannot understand what alternatives are available to them
D)Begin to lose trust in the therapist

Question 53

You are practicing in a relatively rural part of northern Wisconsin, where there are a lot of dairy farms. At one point, a recession begins in the milk market. All of a sudden, the economy in the area is tough on everyone. One of your most faithful clients, who always comes early and pays on time, needs to pay you in butter, milk, cream, and cheese this week. How could you approach this?

A)Accept cash, check, or credit card only
B)This is the individual's livelihood. The fact that they are sharing with you is meaningful.
C)Decline to see the family until the debt is paid
D)Do therapy at their home so that they can save the gas

Question 54

When out to dinner one night, you hear someone begin talking about why they appreciate their therapist. One person jumps into the conversation and points out that therapists are not as effective as psychiatrists or psychologists. You leap across the table to point out:

A)Only psychologists can prescribe medication
B)While scopes of practice are different, therapists are just as capable of diagnosing and treating mental disorders
C)Psychologists are the best because of their experience with data
D)Therapists are less trained than the others in the business of psychotherapy

Question 55

You are being called to testify in a court of law. When you receive your summons, the first thing you are ethically obligated to do is:

A)Exert privilege on behalf of your client
B)Find a lawyer who specializes in psychotherapy practice
C)Refuse all testimony
D)Comply with all orders to testify

Question 56

You are a newly licensed professional who is very proud to be spearheading some professional drives in order to bring more professionals into your organization. You would be able to tell new members that all MFTs in your group are required to:

A)See clients at least four days each week
B)Stay abreast of professional literature
C)Write in to the professional publication in your state
D)Identify clients they don't work with in order to make sure all are covered

Question 57

Those who are new to supervising interns, or who have interns who are new to supervision, should be aware of which of the following?

A)The likelihood that the two will develop their own transference and countertransference
B)Laws that vary from population to population
C)An honest exchange of ideas and thoughtful reactions
D)Individuals who are seeking to better themselves outside of the therapy room

Question 58

Which of the following would not be considered professional organizations from which MFTs could draw legal and ethical references and important information?

A)AAMFT
B)NASW
C)ASCA
D)NACAC

Question 59

A fourteen-year-old boy who you have been seeing in therapy for quite some time asks if you would like to help him celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. One of the more important considerations to make in whether or not you are able to help him celebrate is:

A)How much your presence would sacrifice his confidentiality?
B)At what point would it make the client uncomfortable?
C)What line needs to be crossed in order to make this happen?
D)Attempt to find out just how much he wants you there or if he is being polite

Question 60

Think back on the same client who invited you to his Bar Mitzvah. As it turns out, you were unable to attend after giving it careful thought. However, the week before the big event, you offered the client which of the following compromises so that you could still connect with your client?

A)Continue with therapy, with a small congratulations note
B)Throw an elaborate celebration for the client
C)Offer to host a miniature celebration for the client where he can exhibit his important features of the Bar Mitzvah
D)Terminate therapy, since he has talked about a transition into adulthood