Chapter 1
Introduction
Answer Key
1. Law and ethics differ from one another in that:
a. laws dictate minimum standards of behavior that society will tolerate, whereas ethics
represent the ideal standards expected by the profession.
b. ethics dictate minimum standards of behavior that society will tolerate, whereas laws
represent the ideal standards expected by the profession.
c. ethics and laws have the same standards.
d. laws require that counselors always follow the profession’s ethical standards.
e. ethics and laws are often in conflict because they are so different from one another.
2. The best statement about the nature of professional ethics in counseling is that:
a. if counselors study ethical codes and keep current with the professional literature,
they can be assured of practicing in an ethical manner.
b. in order to practice in an ethical manner, counselors must always be in compliance
with federal and state laws.
c. because there are few absolute right answers to ethical practice questions,
consultation with counseling colleagues is very important when making ethical
decisions.
d. because there are few absolute right answers to ethical practice questions,
consultation with lawyers is very important when making ethical decisions.
e. the ethical standards have changed very little in the last 50 years, so if counselors
learn the rules, they will be able to practice in an ethical manner.
3. The personal values of counselors:
a. have no place in the counseling session.
b. should be completely altruistic.
c. are influenced by their families of origin and their cultures, among other factors.
d. are rooted in universal moral principles.
e. should prevail over ethics when there is a conflict between the counselor’s values and
the client’s behavior.
4. From the perspective of principle ethics, a counselor who is counseling a client planning a
violent act against another person, and who intervenes to notify the client’s family
members is:
a. sacrificing client autonomy in order to prevent harm and to do good.
b. sacrificing fidelity in order to be truthful.
c. sacrificing justice in order to be faithful to promises made.
d. sacrificing veracity in order to protect the client’s anonymity.
e. sacrificing beneficence in order to promote fidelity.
5. While principle ethics asks the question “What should I do?,” virtue ethics asks the
question:
a. “What would an ethical counselor do?”
b. “What should counselors who want the follow the law do?”
c. “Who should I be?”
d. “Who am I?”
e. “What does virtue mean?”
6. Virtue ethicists believe that:
a. to determine whether a counselor is ethical, each decision the counselor makes must
be carefully weighed.
b. people exist in connection to and in relationship with one another.
c. actions speak louder than words.
d. there are no universal moral principles.
e. counselors should always be truthful.
7. At their most fundamental level, codes of ethics serve to:
a. protect and promote the welfare of the client.
b. protect and promote the welfare of the counselor.
c. protect and promote the welfare of the profession.
d. protect and promote the welfare of the counselor’s agency.
e. protect and promote the welfare of the client’s family unit.
8. Counselors who function according to mandatory ethics:
a. believe that employers should require specific behaviors of counselors they hire.
b. believe that their duty is to comply with basic “must” and “must not” statements in
codes of ethics, and nothing more.
c. believe counselors should determine what is ethical based on the specific situations in
which they find themselves.
d. would favor ethical standards that use the word “should,” instead of the word “must.”
e. would favor judging the actions of counselors based on the circumstances, rather than
on strict rules.
9. When attempting to make an ethical decision, it is recommended that counselors take all of
the following steps EXCEPT:
a. tune into their feelings.
b. involve the client in the decision-making process.
c. consider the moral principles.
d. consult with an attorney.
e. identify desired outcomes.
10. Once counselors have disclosed their legal questions to their immediate supervisors, and
have received a response either from the supervisor or from an attorney who is advising
them as to the proper course of action,
a. it is essential for counselors to seek a second opinion.
b. it is essential for counselors to choose and act on their own choice.
c. it is essential for counselors to follow legal advice given to them, even if they do not
agree with it.
d. it is essential for counselors to follow legal advice given to them, but only if they
agree with it.
e. it is essential for counselors to ask the ACA Ethics Committee for an opinion.
11. All of the following are situations in which it is necessary to consult with colleagues
EXCEPT:
a. when counselors face issues that require them to exercise judgment.
b. when there are no clear right or wrong answers.
c. when deciding whether to respond to a subpoena.
d. when it is possible that clinical decisions will be challenged later.
e. when they are not certain whether a client might be suicidal.
12. Laws:
a. always support professional values and behaviors.
b. dictate maximum standards of behavior for professionals in a position of trust who
provide services to the public.
c. are similar to ethics in that they represent ideal standards.
d. often conflict with an ethical standard related to a similar issue.
e. are agreed upon rules that are set forth by principles allowing people to live together
in a society.
13. External forces that can support counselors in their efforts to practice ethically include all
of the following EXCEPT:
a. supervision.
b. intentionality.
c. consultation.
d. codes of ethics.
14. The ACA Code of Ethics:
a. helps to stabilize the profession.
b. answers nearly all questions that a counselor might have.
c. sets forth ethical responsibilities that never change.
d. is the single, universally accepted code of ethics for counselors.
e. is updated every two or three years.
15. When a counselor discovers that a client holds values that are dramatically different from
the counselor’s own values, the counselor should:
a. try to gently persuade the client to re-examine his or her values.
b. respect the client’s values, even though the counselor disagrees with them.
c. immediately refer the client to another counselor.
d. give the client some reading material that will broaden his or her perspective.
ask the client how he or she would feel if people discriminated against him or her because of
values held.
Answer Key