Deck 9: Group and Family Interventions: Unique Ethical Responsibilities

Question 1

Identify at least five major competencies that group leaders should possess. What special characteristics of groups make these competencies important?

Answer 1

No Answer

Question 2

How does informed consent for group counseling differ from informed consent for individual counseling? Identify the specific aspects of consent that are unique to groups.

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

What are the risks to confidentiality for group members that are distinct from individual counseling and what steps should leaders take to minimize these risks?

Answer 3

No Answer

Question 4

If a counselor or therapist is considering embarking on concurrent individual and group counseling what are the ethical issues that person should consider? What do the codes of ethics say about this practice?

Question 5

Scapegoating has been identified as a risk of group counseling. Define this term and discuss its relevance in multicultural groups.

Question 6

If a husband reveals to a counselor that he is having an extramarital affair during an individual session with that counselor, what are the counselor's obligations to keep that information private from the wife in the next family session? If the counselor believes it very important to disclose that information to the wife, how should he or she proceed?

Question 7

What steps can a family counselor take to encourage a non-participating family member to come to family sessions? Identify only those steps that are consistent with the codes of ethics.

Question 8

What statements do the codes of ethics make about the role of the personal beliefs and values of the family counselor in the conduct of that activity?

Question 9

If a family counselor indicated to you that she was using a risky intervention to assist a family that seemed resistant to traditional approaches to family treatment what advice would you give that counselor to help her act in compliance with current ethical standards?

Question 10

Scholars do not recommend family or couples' treatment for partners in situations in which there is ongoing domestic violence. Why not? What alternative treatments do they recommend?

Question 11

ACA and APA codes of ethics for group counseling and psychotherapy include statements about all of the following except:

A) a requirement to screen prospective group members
B) A statement about the essential components of responsible termination of group members who drop out of group
C) A mandate that group leaders act in ways to avoid foreseeable harm to members
D) A statement that group leaders explain the parameters of confidentiality in group counseling

Question 12

Training for group leaders should include:

A) A review of the outcome research on group therapy
B) Understanding of the factors that make group participation unwise for a given member
C) Knowledge of theories of group development
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 13

Informed consent for group counseling should emphasize which of the following:

A) It should discuss (in greater detail than individual counseling) the costs of the group
B) It should discuss (in greater detail than individual counseling) the procedures for filing a grievance against a leader.
C) It should discuss (in greater detail than individual counseling) the limitations of privilege in group settings
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 14

Which of the following is true about the use of confidentiality contracts in group counseling and therapy?

A) Less than one-quarter of practicing professionals use confidentiality contracts.
B) Research has shown they result in significantly better compliance with confidentiality mandates among group members
C) They reduce the likelihood of a malpractice award against a group leader
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 15

The guidelines for dual relationships in group counseling:

A) Are less strict because the emotional connection between the leader and the individual is not as strong as in individual counseling
B) Apply to the relationship between members and leaders, not to the relationship between co-leaders
C) Do not affect the member's emotional response to therapy as significantly as in individual counseling
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 16

Sibling rivalry in group therapy is especially likely to occur:

A) When group members are of differing ages and genders
B) When clients are using different forms of insurance
C) When some clients are also in individual counseling with the group leader
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 17

When people are mandated to participate in group experiences by the courts, group leaders should:

A) Refuse to accept them because it violates informed consent according to the ethics codes
B) Conduct a pre-screening session with the prospective member that allows the person to express frustration with the mandate and discuss consent issues
C) Inform them at the start that if they do not cooperate with the group they will be removed from it
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 18

If an 18-year old high school senior discloses frequent use of alcohol at weekend parties during an individual session with a family counselor in a community agency:

A) The counselor may disclose that information to the parents in the next family session without the student's consent because the student is still living in the parents' house and is not an independent adult
B) The counselor is obligated by the codes to immediately pursue the student's consent to discuss that disclosure in the family session
C) The counselor would be acting ethically if he elected to keep that information completely confidential from the parents
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 19

A family counselor who declines to conduct family sessions if one member of the immediate family refuses to attend family sessions is acting:

A) In compliance with the ethics code if he gives the prospective clients the names of other possible therapists
B) In violation of both ACA and APA codes for multiple-person therapies
C) In compliance if the advertisements for his work clearly state that he will only accept families when all members agree to participate
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 20

A family counselor who does not believe that homosexual couples should become parents because of the emotional difficulties the children of such couples may experience:

A) Should be applauded for being aware and explicit about her own beliefs
B) Has a personal ethical obligation to discourage homosexual couples from becoming parents
C) Should refer such clients to other therapists with differing views about homosexual parents
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 21

When a family therapist is considering the use of a paradoxical intervention, that therapist should consider:

A) Whether the informed consent discussed the possible use of such interventions
B) Whether alternative measures may be equally effective
C) Whether the deception involved is worth the potential therapeutic benefit
D) All of the above
E) None of the above