Chapter 11
Counseling Children and Vulnerable Adults
Answer Key
1. Minor clients have:
a. an ethical right to privacy and confidentiality, but no legal right in most states.
b. an ethical and a legal right to privacy and confidentiality in most states.
c. a legal right to determine when parents should become involved in the counseling
process.
d. no ethical or legal rights.
e. a legal right to remain in counseling over their parents’ objections.
2. In determining whether a child is a danger to self or others, the counselor should do all of
the following EXCEPT:
a. consult with a colleague.
b. consider the age and maturity level of the client.
c. follow the institutional policy on the issue.
d. assure the client of complete confidentiality.
e. document any actions taken.
3. Parents who object to their child’s participation in counseling:
a. have no legal rights.
b. have limited legal rights if there is a statute in the state that addresses the issue.
c. may have the right to demand that services be discontinued.
d. should be reported for suspected child abuse.
e. can win a law suit if they sue based on violation of their first amendment rights.
4. School counselors have a legal obligation to do all of the following EXCEPT:
a. obtain written parental permission before counseling students in most circumstances.
b. report child abuse if it is suspected.
c. inform parents if the counselor determines the child is at risk for suicide.
d. inform parents if the counselor determines the child is a danger to others.
e. secure parents’ informed consent before providing unusual counseling services.
5. Many states have laws requiring reports of suspected abuse of all of the following
EXCEPT:
a. children.
b. elderly persons.
c. incompetent persons.
d. abused spouses or domestic partners.
e. developmentally disabled persons.
6. When reporting suspected child abuse in good faith, counselors should review their
particular state statute to determine all of the following EXCEPT:
a. who must file the report.
b. when the report must be made.
c. counselor liability for defamation of character.
d. whether past abuse must be reported.
e. whether a written report is required in addition to an oral report.
7. Dual relationships in school settings:
a. seldom cause problems.
b. do not usually create misunderstandings.
c. help students gain trust and respect for the counselor, if the counselor has disciplinary
functions in the non-counseling relationship.
d. generally, should be avoided.
e. rarely occur when dealing with child abuse issues.
8. As a professional counselor, you are required by law in all states to report:
a. a client’s threat to commit a burglary.
b. suspected child abuse or neglect.
c. unethical behavior of a colleague.
d. knowledge that a client has tested positive for HIV.
e. all of the above.
9. When it comes to determining who has the right to make decisions regarding a child’s life,
the law favors:
a. the adult with whom the child is living.
b. grandparents, if they are raising the child.
c. biological parents.
d. the child himself or herself.
e. the child’s adult sibling.
10. Each of the following groups might be considered to be vulnerable adults who are
protected from abuse in some states by statute EXCEPT:
a. developmentally disabled adults.
b. severely mentally ill adults.
c. elderly adults.
d. physically disabled adults.
e. emotionally distressed adults.
11. The 2014 ACA Code of Ethics advises counselors to:
a. uphold the confidentiality rights of their minor clients even when parents object.
b. avoid legal liability by including parents in counseling sessions with their children.
c. avoid legal liability by disclosing to parents any risky behavior of a minor client, such
as experimenting with drugs or alcohol.
d. establish collaborative relationships with parents.
e. obtain minor clients’ legal informed consent for counseling services.
12. When counseling clients who are terminally ill and wish to explore end-of-life decisions,
counselors should always do all of the following EXCEPT:
a. help the clients clarify their thoughts and feelings about end-of-life choices.
b. assist the clients to deal with grief and loss issues.
c. examine their own values and beliefs about death and dying before agreeing to
counsel terminally ill clients.
d. ensure that they have the competencies needed to work with terminally ill clients.
e. inform the terminally ill client’s family that the client is considering various end of
life options and involve the family in the decision-making process.
13. The 2014 ACA Code of Ethics:
a. contains few standards specifically related to counseling children.
b. advises counselors to develop specialty competences before attempting to counsel
children.
c. advises counselors to consider that adolescents are more concerned about privacy
than adult clients.
d. requires counselors to notify parents or guardians when teens disclose they have used
marijuana.
e. advises counselors to report to police any instances of sexting among adolescents
14. With respect to counseling minor clients who are considering abortion, counselors
SHOULD:
a. be aware that most teens avoiding talking to their parents about pregnancy because
adolescents need to rebel against parental authority.
b. recognize that these clients may need to process issues of abuse, loss, love, and hopes
for the future.
c. advocate their own moral position regarding abortion.
d. exercise care when assisting a minor to obtain an abortion.
e. immediately refer these clients to medical professionals.
15. Research has shown that school counselors are unanimous in believing that:
a. confidentiality must be breached when students reveal they are using cocaine.
b. “delicate cutting” is such risky behavior that parents must be notified.
c. even young children are capable of giving Informed Consent to counseling.
d. suicidal behavior poses a level of threat that requires breaching confidentiality.
e. they should refer all children with serious depression to clinical counselors, when
possible.
Answer Key