A clinical psychologist is treating a young man who made several threats against his former girlfriend during therapy sessions. According to the Tarasoff decision, what is the psychologist's responsibility in this case?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Tarasoff decision establishes that if a therapist determines that someone poses a serious threat of violence to another person, the therapist has a duty to warn the potential victim or to take reasonable steps to protect that individual from harm. In this case, the young man has made several threats against his former girlfriend during therapy sessions, indicating that he poses a serious threat of harm to her. The psychologist has a responsibility to the threatened person and must call the police or take other reasonable action to protect her. The therapist-client privilege is not absolute when there is a serious risk of harm to an identifiable individual, and the psychologist is not required to ask for immediate institutionalization unless it is deemed necessary to protect the threatened person.

A Clinical Psychologist Is Treating a Young Man Who Made