Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a code of ethics in regards to sexual contact and the therapeutic relationship from various professional organizations?
A) Sexual intimacy with current clients,or their spouses or partners,is prohibited.Engaging in sexual intimacy with individuals who are known to be close relatives,guardians or significant others of current clients is prohibited.
B) Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with current clients/patients; however,if a client/patient has not been treated within two years a relationship may become ethically approved.
C) Sexual or romantic counselorclient interactions or relationships with current clients or their family members are prohibited.
D) Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with individuals they know to be close relatives,guardians,or significant others of current clients/patients.Psychologists do not terminate therapy to circumvent this standard.

Accepted Answer

Choice B is incorrect because it suggests that a relationship may become ethically approved after two years, which is not a universally accepted or ethical standard across various professional organizations. Most codes of ethics strictly prohibit sexual or romantic relationships with current or former clients, without specifying a time frame that would make such a relationship ethically acceptable.

Question 2

When in conflict with clinical needs,context,competence,or consent,even the most well-intentioned nonsexual physical contact may be experienced as:
A) appropriate,gentle,and wanted contact.
B) aggressive,frightening,intimidating,demeaning,arrogant,unwanted,insensitive,threatening,or intrusive.
C) passive,soothing,calming,comforting,gentle,and peaceful.
D) completely indifferent for both therapist and client.

Accepted Answer

Nonsexual physical contact in a clinical setting, when in conflict with the patient's clinical needs, context, competence, or consent, can be perceived as aggressive, frightening, intimidating, demeaning, arrogant, unwanted, insensitive, threatening, or intrusive. This is because such contact may violate the patient's personal boundaries or sense of safety, leading to negative experiences.

Question 3

The notion that certain actions will inevitably lead to a progressive deterioration of ethical behavior is commonly referred to as:
A) the slippery slope phenomenon.
B) therapist decay.
C) the ethical deterioration phenomenon.
D) role erosion.

Accepted Answer

The slippery slope phenomenon refers to the idea that a small first step can lead to a chain of related events culminating in a significant (usually negative) effect, including the progressive deterioration of ethical behavior.

Question 4

Miguel has been providing couples' counseling to Saundra and Steven for a couple of years and was recently invited to attend their 20th wedding anniversary party.Attending this event is an example of:
A) a boundary violation.
B) a potentially beneficial nonprofessional interaction.
C) an unprofessional interaction.
D) a lapse of judgment.

Accepted Answer

Attending a client's event like a wedding anniversary can be a potentially beneficial nonprofessional interaction if it is handled appropriately and does not interfere with the therapeutic relationship.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a reason for discouraging the practice of accepting friends as clients or of becoming socially involved with clients?
A) Therapists may not be as challenging as they need to be with clients they know socially because of a need to be liked and accepted by the client.
B) Therapists may be as effective with clients they know socially as they are with clients they have never met previously to the therapeutic relationship.
C) Counselors' own needs may be enmeshed with those of their clients to the point that objectivity is lost.
D) Counselors are at greater risk of exploiting clients because of the power differential in the therapeutic relationship.

Accepted Answer

B) is not a reason for discouraging the practice because it suggests therapists can be equally effective with clients they know socially, which contradicts the concern that personal relationships can compromise the therapeutic effectiveness and objectivity.

Question 6

A __________ application of boundaries can be harmful to clients by creating a sterile relationship that works against establishing a positive therapeutic alliance.
A) rigid risk-avoidance
B) lenient wellbeing
C) easy-going secure
D) slippery slope phenomenon

Accepted Answer

A rigid risk-avoidance application of boundaries can be harmful because it may prevent the development of a trusting and supportive relationship between the therapist and client, which is essential for effective therapy. This approach can make the therapeutic environment feel cold and impersonal.

Question 7

Clinicians who oppose any form of physical contact with their clients (e.g.,nonerotic touching)believe all of the following EXCEPT:
A) it can promote dependency.
B) it can interfere with the transference relationship.
C) it can be misread by clients.
D) it can become a healthy romantic relationship.

Accepted Answer

Physical contact in a therapeutic setting is generally avoided due to concerns about promoting dependency, interfering with the transference relationship, and the potential for misinterpretation by clients. The idea that it could become a healthy romantic relationship contradicts the ethical boundaries established in clinician-client relationships.

Question 8

Mentors often balance a multiplicity of roles.Which of the following would NOT be considered one of these roles?
A) Teacher and counselor
B) Role model
C) Guide and friend
D) Partner

Accepted Answer

Mentors typically serve as teachers, counselors, role models, guides, and friends to their mentees, offering support, advice, and encouragement. The role of a "partner" is not traditionally associated with mentorship, as it implies a more equal or reciprocal relationship, whereas mentorship often involves a more experienced individual guiding someone less experienced.

Question 9

Changes in mental health care laws and practice have increased the need for:
A) outreach psychotherapists.
B) higher costs and fewer psychotherapy hours.
C) gift giving.
D) stricter boundaries for outreach psychotherapists.

Accepted Answer

The changes in mental health care laws and practice have increased the need for outreach psychotherapists to provide services to individuals who may not have access to traditional mental health care settings.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a possible multiple relationship in a small community?
A) A therapist might attend the same church or community activities as the clients they serve.
B) A therapist who is a recovering alcoholic and attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings may meet a client at one of these meetings.
C) A therapist isolates him or herself in order to limit the possibility of multiple relationships.
D) In an isolated area,a clergy person may seek counseling for a personal crisis from the only counselor in the town-someone who also happens to be a parishioner.

Accepted Answer

Multiple relationships occur when a therapist engages in roles beyond the professional one with a client. Isolating oneself to avoid multiple relationships is not a multiple relationship itself but a strategy to avoid them. Choices A, B, and D describe scenarios where multiple relationships could occur due to overlapping social, professional, or personal roles.

Question 11

All of the following are true about bartering EXCEPT:
A) bartering can be a dignified and honorable form of payment for those who are cash poor but talented in other ways.
B) bartering is a healthy norm in many cultures.
C) bartering is illegal and unethical.
D) bartering can be part of a clearly articulated treatment plan; like other interventions,bartering must be considered in light of the client's needs,desires,situation,and cultural background.

Accepted Answer

Bartering is not inherently illegal or unethical; it is a legitimate form of exchange that has been practiced for centuries across various cultures. It can be a viable option under certain conditions and when conducted ethically, considering the client's needs and circumstances.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a controversy of boundary issues?
A) Age,diagnosis,life experiences such as abuse,and culture are key elements of the therapeutic relationship.
B) An unfortunate reality is that some practitioners have difficulty distinguishing where appropriate boundary lines should be drawn.
C) The goal of ethical decision-making is to take a position where the potential for exploitation is minimized.
D) Failing to establish clear boundaries can be very dangerous to both the client and the therapist.

Accepted Answer

The statement in A does not describe a controversy of boundary issues but rather factors that are important considerations in the therapeutic relationship.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about giving or receiving gifts is FALSE?
A) Lavish gifts certainly present an ethical problem; yet,we can go too far in the direction of trying to be ethical and actually damage the therapeutic relationship.
B) It is important to recognize when accepting a gift from a client is clinically contraindicated and that you be willing to explore this with your client.
C) In working with culturally diverse client populations,clinicians often discover that they need to engage in boundary crossing to enhance the counseling relationship.
D) It could be more problematic to accept a gift at a later stage of a counseling relationship.

Accepted Answer

Accepting a gift at a later stage of a counseling relationship is not inherently more problematic than at earlier stages. The ethical considerations around accepting gifts generally focus on the value of the gift, its impact on the therapeutic relationship, and the client's motivation, rather than the timing of the gift within the therapeutic process.

Question 14

Practitioners in rural settings often find themselves involved in multiple relationships.Challenges the deal with include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) professional isolation.
B) high visibility in the community.
C) spending a minimal amount of time traveling between professional engagements.
D) coping with the inevitability of multiple relationships.

Accepted Answer

Practitioners in rural settings often face significant travel times between professional engagements due to the geographical spread of communities, contrary to the option suggesting minimal travel time.

Question 15

The ethics codes of most professional organizations provide guidelines for the ethical practice of bartering.Some more recent codes (APA,NASW,AAMFT,and ACA):
A) state the practice of bartering is unethical no matter the circumstances.
B) take a more strict attitude increasing the punishment for practicing bartering.
C) state bartering should take place of payment; therefore,the therapeutic relationship can become more trustworthy.
D) take a more flexible and less punitive attitude toward bartering.

Accepted Answer

The ethics codes of organizations like APA, NASW, AAMFT, and ACA have evolved to adopt a more flexible and less punitive attitude towards bartering, recognizing that it can be appropriate under certain conditions, rather than outright banning the practice or increasing punishments for it. This approach acknowledges the complexity of ethical decision-making in diverse contexts.

Quiz 7: Managing Boundaries and Multiple Relationships

Which of the following is NOT a code of ethics in regards to sexual contact and the therapeutic relationship from various professional organizations?

When in conflict with clinical needs,context,competence,or consent,even the most well-intentioned nonsexual physical contact may be experienced as:

The notion that certain actions will inevitably lead to a progressive deterioration of ethical behavior is commonly referred to as:

Miguel has been providing couples' counseling to Saundra and Steven for a couple of years and was recently invited to attend their 20th wedding anniversary party.Attending this event is an example of:

Which of the following is NOT a reason for discouraging the practice of accepting friends as clients or of becoming socially involved with clients?

A __________ application of boundaries can be harmful to clients by creating a sterile relationship that works against establishing a positive therapeutic alliance.

Clinicians who oppose any form of physical contact with their clients (e.g.,nonerotic touching) believe all of the following EXCEPT:

Mentors often balance a multiplicity of roles.Which of the following would NOT be considered one of these roles?

Changes in mental health care laws and practice have increased the need for:

Which of the following is NOT a possible multiple relationship in a small community?

All of the following are true about bartering EXCEPT:

Which of the following is NOT a controversy of boundary issues?

Which of the following statements about giving or receiving gifts is FALSE?

Practitioners in rural settings often find themselves involved in multiple relationships.Challenges the deal with include all of the following EXCEPT:

The ethics codes of most professional organizations provide guidelines for the ethical practice of bartering.Some more recent codes (APA,NASW,AAMFT,and ACA) :