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?

Accepted Answer

While clients certainly have the right and the need to contact you at certain points in the treatment process or for logistical issues, .they do not need access to your personal lines of communication. Informed consent is fulfilled when giving clients information for people to contact in the event of an emergency.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Disclosing a crime that has already been committed does not require a therapist to break confidentiality. On the other hand, any impending problems that could require intervention to prevent future harm or injury to the client or another person is grounds for breaking confidentiality.

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?

Accepted Answer

When a couple is divorced, you want to make sure that you separate who has legal custody from who has physical custody, if such a difference exists for the couple. Only the parent or parents who have legal custody may consent to any medical treatment, including psychotherapy.

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:

Accepted Answer

Without citing specifics, you would still be able to say that you would discuss Eric's treatment to the extent that it could benefit him. That way, you are able to maintain his confidentiality while offering progressive feedback. This idea helps to facilitate communication and flow between the support system, your most important allies.

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:

Accepted Answer

In order for duty-to-warn to apply, a specific plan must have been shared with the therapist. Thus far, Harry has admitted that he sometimes wishes she was not here, but has not shared any specific plans. Without any details to share with others, there is no duty to warn. Specificity is key when making a decision as to the necessity of disclosure.

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:

Accepted Answer

The first step in any sharing of information should be signing a consent form so that as the therapist, you know which information you are allowed to release and which information is exempted from your discussion with other professionals.

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:

Accepted Answer

All of the above things are important to consider when communicating via e-mail. No e-mail communication can be guaranteed to be safe or secure. Information is at risk of interception by others and as a result, could be misinterpreted or used inappropriately against your clients. You may also want to consider federal HIPPA regulations before opening any e-mail discussions.

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:

Accepted Answer

All of the above things could be interpreted to be happening in this situation. Ethically, patients should all pay the same fee unless they require a sliding scale. Most, if not all, insurance panels require you to bill the same rate that cash patients would pay. On your informed consent, you disclose a fee for service. When signing, your clients assume that fee applies to all.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Duty to warn is discharged when the therapist has notified, at a minimum, the intended victim and local law enforcement. There is not an expectation to notify the media or next of kin, since doing so may alert extra individuals to the situation who may bring unwanted attention.

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?

Accepted Answer

Making appropriate referrals is a good example of reasonable care. When referring clients to other care providers, it is critical not to let your own biases enter the picture. Leaving the room when the client has an emotional experience shows distance and a lack of professional judgment. One week is a bit too long to let a phone call lapse and pushing for an answer when clients may not be ready shows a lack of sensitivity.

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?

Accepted Answer

Dual relationships exist when the client or the therapist is placed in a situation where he fulfills two roles in the particular relationship. For example, Barry cannot be your client and your landscaper. Nor could you be his therapist and his employer. This dual relationship promotes a dangerous shift in the balance of power that would damage the relationship.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Consulting with colleagues and other professionals is both ethical and professionally enriching. While it is ethical, it is important to clarify that sharing this as common practice is encouraged, since others who are involved in treatment will feel less anxious and more trusting if they make the decision to disclose personal information.

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?

Accepted Answer

Advance notice and proper referrals are always appropriate when you're headed on vacation. Still, the other options are all potential ideas, but none of them given enough credence to the relationship developed between client and clinician. Running from termination won't be healthy either. Remember that whatever protocol you are setting for yourself, you are also setting an example for your clients.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Meticulous record keeping is the best defense against any malpractice lawsuit that could arise. While all the others may protect you, they are severely limiting in your ability to do any meaningful work and will have you watching over your shoulder every session. Instead, documenting provides a concrete record of time, place, and service rendered and can serve to display proper ethical care.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Progress notes that detail date, time, and place of service are required. Keeping other portions of the session outside of the session can be complex, but sometimes worth the work it takes to document them. For example, process notes can help the therapist to recall salient details from week to week. Complete disclosure of those notes outside the session could well violate confidentiality.

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?

Accepted Answer

Legal experts across the field agree that "if it isn't documented, it didn't happen." It is considered unethical to create other stories in order to cover legal bases. Documentation has very little to do with the potential outcome of any particular situation. Even when a document is challenged, its existence is the first step to establishing cause or practice.

Question 17

When working as a therapist, getting your own therapy:

Accepted Answer

Individual therapy for the therapist can improve professional insight and awareness. Without it, many therapists begin to lose track of their client's issues inside of their own, decreasing their effectiveness. Receiving your own therapy can free up your time to focus on things that are important to your client, increasing empathy and reflective listening. While it is true that you may see more reflected in your own sessions, have enough confidence that you will be able to keep your issues from pushing into your 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:

Accepted Answer

If you have someone who is constantly agreeing with what you say, no matter what that is, it makes you a bit uneasy. People attend therapy to be challenged and if they are spending quite a bit of time getting affirmed or agreed with, they may begin to wonder about their critical need or value in therapy. In reality, for the therapist, this could be more about not losing a client to the difficult, more challenging questions.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

When transference occurs between therapist and client, it is often because issues begin to remind the client of things that they have said, heard, or done before. Ignoring these issues just because you are the authority figure or the "expert" in the room is not the appropriate thing to do. If anything, make sure that you are able to recognize when someone is having these feelings. As a therapist, always maintain an openness to clients that includes awareness.

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:

Accepted Answer

The medical model does not make much in the way of progress when it comes to cultural understanding or execution of therapy. And while a therapist may be culturally competent, they may not always be able to represent viewpoints or engage in discussions around certain groups. Not to mention that tunnel vision is just poor therapy. Pluralism, allowing for more than one viewpoint, can be the saving grace for many clients in search of some answers on any topic.

Quiz 2: Law Ethics