If a subpoena for the counseling records of a client is received, a counselor who works
in a mental health agency should
a. ask his or her supervisor to obtain a legal opinion as to whether the records should be
copied for the attorney who has issued the subpoena.
b. immediately turn the records over to the attorney who has issued the subpoena.
c. call the attorney who has issued the subpoena and request that the subpoena be
withdrawn.
d. consult with a counselor colleague before deciding how to respond.
e. hire an attorney in private practice and ask the attorney to tell the counselor whether
the records should be copied for the attorney who has issued the subpoena.
Answer:
The gatekeeping responsibilities of counselor educators may involve all of the
following EXCEPT
a. developing a professional development plan for a student whose counseling skills are
deficient
b. dismissing a student from the training program after observing due process
c. providing periodic feedback and evaluation of professional development
d. providing a formal hearing if a student is dismissed for academic reasons
e. documenting decisions to dismiss students
Answer:
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.
Answer:
When counseling victims of domestic violence, counselors should
a. avoid encouraging the victim to leave the relationship until safety can be assured
b. report the abuser to the police
c. try to persuade the victim to leave the abuser
d. remember that the abuser is probably himself or herself a victim of abuse
e. never see the members of the couple separately, to avoid deceit
Answer:
If a consultant is not a consultee’s administrative supervisor, the consultant
a. still is responsible for any outcomes related to the consultee taking the consultant’s
advice.
b. legally would be considered to have control and authority over a consultee, even
though the consultant is not the consultee’s boss.
c. can avoid liability for any actions of the consultee by purchasing professional
liability insurance.
d. can avoid liability for any actions of the consultee by having the consultee sign an
agreement that releases the consultant from liability.
e. generally, would not be held legally responsible for actions taken by the consultee
based on the consultant’s advice.
Answer:
Freedom of choice legislation allows health care consumers to choose
a. the insurance company they prefer.
b. the physician they prefer under their state authorized health care plans.
c. the hospital they prefer for health care treatment.
d. the state managed health care facility they prefer.
e. the type of health care provider they prefer under state authorized health care plans.
Answer:
All of the following are challenges associated with distance counseling, EXCEPT:
a. loss of body language, inflection, and other cues to communication.
b. licensing concerns relative to practicing across state and international boundaries.
c. limited effectiveness of counseling services that are not delivered face-to-face.
d. reimbursement by insurance providers.
e. need to continuously update ethical codes to address distance counseling.
Answer:
Certification is a process
a. for school counselors exclusively.
b. through which official state agencies certify individuals as qualified to hold certain
state jobs.
c. that protects the title of “counselor” in some states.
d. is always voluntary, whereas licensure is required.
e. that prevents individuals from practicing counseling unless they hold at least a
master’s degree.
Answer:
Dual relationships in school settings
a. seldom cause problems.
b. don’t usually create misunderstandings.
c. help students gain trust and respect for the counselor if the counselor has disciplinary
functions in the noncounseling relationship.
d. generally should be avoided .
e. rarely occur when dealing with child abuse issues.
Answer:
One of the most ethically sensitive components of counselor training that has generated
considerable debate is
a. job placement after graduation.
b. self-growth experiences.
c. class presentations.
d. subjective grading in counseling skills classes.
e. relationships with peers.
Answer:
All of the following statements about advertising one’s services in an ethical manner are
true, EXCEPT
a. the ACA Code of Ethics imposes strict criteria and restrictions on advertising.
b. counselors must correct misrepresentations of their qualifications if they learn about
such misrepresentations.
c. counselors are required to distinguish between paid and volunteer work experience
when they advertise their qualifications.
d. counselors must present their credentials accurately.
e. many counselors hold multiple credentials and it is ethical to list all relevant
credentials on their business cards.
Answer:
Counselors who use social media profile sites for personal purposes should NOT
a. “friend” their clients
b. establish an effective method for verifying client identity
c. provide a list of all their licenses and links to the licensing boards
d. post a photo of themselves on the site
e. use the site to advertise their specialty areas
Answer:
Counselors with a strong professional identity are able to do all of the following
EXCEPT
a. describe the services their profession renders to the public.
b. articulate the similarities and differences between their profession and other similar
groups.
c. show pride in belonging to the counseling profession.
d. demonstrate that they hold a master’s degree from a CACREP-accredited program.
e. explain the philosophy that underlies the activities of counselors.
Answer:
Competence is most closely related to the moral principle of
a. fiduciary relationships
b. professionalism
c. integrity
d. do no harm
e. autonomy
Answer:
During the time that a counseling student is counseling clients in a practicum or
internship setting, the student counselor
a. should not reveal the names of clients to the practicum/internship supervisor
b. has the same ethical obligations to uphold confidentiality as does a licensed
counselor
c. should refer all clients who engage in risky behaviors
d. should maintain absolute confidentiality of participants in groups the student is
facilitating
e. should not videotape counseling sessions so that client confidentiality is protected
Answer:
All of the following statements are true, EXCEPT
a. employers cannot force employees to take actions that are illegal.
b. employees do not have to do anything they consider to be unethical.
c. when disputes arise between employer and employees, the law generally favors the
employer.
d. by accepting a job, an employee agrees to perform the tasks assigned.
e. counselors have a legal right to be free in the workplace of discrimination based on
race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age and disabilities.
Answer:
When a counselor determines that a client may be at risk for harming self or others, the
counselor always must
a. call the police.
b. take the steps necessary to prevent harm.
c. call an ambulance to take the client to the hospital emergency room.
d. notify individuals with whom the client lives.
e. notify the parents of the client.
Answer:
The primary difference between a boundary crossing and a boundary violation is
a. everyone agrees when a boundary has been violated, whereas it is hard to reach
agreement as to whether a boundary has been crossed.
b. a violation involves a sexual relationship.
c. a crossing occurs in almost every counseling session, while violations are less
frequent.
d. in a crossing, a boundary is shifted to meet the needs of the counselor, making sure
the client is not harmed in the process.
e. a violation involves a serious breach of the code of ethics that results in a client being
harmed.
Answer:
The school counseling movement in the United States resulted as a consequence of
which major event?
a. the Russians launching Sputnik.
b. the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
c. the Cuban Missile Crisis.
d. APA’s declaration that only psychologists at the doctoral level would be recognized
as professionals.
e. the national legislation that ensured education for all handicapped persons.
Answer:
The ACA Code of Ethics requires counselors to explain to clients, before testing
takes place, all of the following EXCEPT
a. that clients may ask questions while they are taking the test if any items are confusing
to them.
b. the nature and purposes of the tests.
c. whether test results will be used as a screening tool for membership in a counseling
group.
d. what conditions produce the best test results.
e. that they will receive feedback about the test results.
Answer:
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.
Answer:
When counselor trainees make audiotapes or videotapes of counseling sessions for
supervision purposes
a. trainees must retrieve the tapes after the supervisors have reviewed them, and then
erase the tapes.
b. supervisors must handle the tapes appropriately during the time the tapes are in the
supervisors’ possession.
c. supervisors should return tapes to trainees after the tapes have been reviewed.
d. the tapes should be labeled simply, in a manner that does not bring attention to the
fact that the tapes are confidential records.
e. all of the above.
Answer:
As a result of recent developments in technology, counselor education faculty are
advised to
a. teach students how to use digital videorecording equipment to record their practice
counseling sessions
b. teach some courses over the Internet
c. emphasize confidentiality of audo- and videotaped counseling sessions of student
interns
d. require students to have university e-mail accounts
e. develop and publish policies regarding student conduct on social networking sites
Answer:
According to McIntosh, examples of White privilege include all of the following
EXCEPT
a. being able to watch television and see people of the White race widely represented.
b. seeing on television White people positively represented.
c. knowing that if legal or medical help is needed, race will not work against the White
person.
d. growing up in a White middle or upper class family environment.
e. not needing to teach White children about systemic racism for their own daily
protection.
Answer:
A new and notable development in the 21st century has been
a. a growing awareness of multicultural differences.
b. the development of multicultural competences for the counseling profession.
c. attention to cultural differences in counselors’ codes of ethics
d. a focus on cultural bias in assessment
e. an emphasis on social justice and advocacy
Answer:
A difference between consultation and counseling is that
a. consultation is a mandated activity, whereas counseling is usually sought voluntarily
b. consultants provide indirect services to clients, whereas counseling is a direct service
c. consultation involves a relationship among equals and does not involve a power
differential
d. consultation focuses on work relationships, whereas counseling focuses on personal
and interpersonal relationships
e. confidentiality is not an issue in consultation, while it is a primary concern in
counseling
Answer:
Sexual relationships between counselor educators and their students
a. are not expressly forbidden in the ACA Code of Ethics.
b. are expressly forbidden in the ACA Code of Ethics.
c. are not forbidden because students are not in a vulnerable position in their
relationships with professors.
d. should be avoided, but can be justified in some circumstances.
e. are expressly forbidden by most universities.
Answer:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that
a. counselors give clients a clear written explanation of how they use, keep, and
disclose their health care information.
b. clients have access to their records.
c. a written process exists for clients to request amendments to their records.
d. a written history of most disclosures of client information be available to clients.
e. all of the above.
Answer:
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
Answer:
Alice is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has counseled Thomas for several
months. An issue to which they have devoted considerable time is Thomas’ fear of
failure, particularly in terms of his ability to succeed academically and complete his
G.E.D. When Thomas learns that he has passed his G.E.D. exam, he asks Alice to
attend the ceremony at which he will receive his G.E.D. diploma, and she accepts the
invitation. This is an example of
a. poor professional judgment.
b. a boundary violation.
c. a boundary crossing.
d. a detrimental dual relationship.
e. a violation of the code of ethics standard on non-professional relationships.
Answer:
If you determine that another counselor is engaging in an illegal activity,
a. you must report the crime to the police.
b. you should tell the counselor’s administrative supervisor immediately.
c. you should inform the counselor you are aware of the illegal activity and demand that
the counselor refrain from such activity in the future.
d. you may decide to ignore the activity or take some kind of action, depending on the
situation.
e. since you are not legally obligated to report crimes to the police, you should not get
involved.
Answer:
Researchers are ethically obligated to
a. compensate the participants in their research, either monetarily or by an
acknowledgment
b. attempt to publish their results
c. offer feedback to the participants in the study
d. enlist the help of a statistician to interpret the results
e. destroy all records that might identify participants as soon as the study is completed
Answer:
How can a counselor determine whether an adolescent client’s risk-taking behaviors
present a sufficiently serious risk for harm to warrant breaching the client’s
confidentiality?
Answer:
Assuming that you are a moral and responsible person (as are most counselors), why do
you think it is important for you to study ethical and legal principles and the
decision-making process?
Answer:
Why is it important to carefully document events in emergency situations?
Answer:
What do you think about counselors providing counseling services to clients through
Skype, FaceTime, or some similar type of technology?
Answer:
Why do think marriage and family counselors end up embroiled in their clients’ lawsuits
so often?
Answer:
What would you do if you found that you felt a strong sexual attraction to a client you
were counseling?
Answer:
What resources can you use when you need help in resolving an ethical dilemma?
Answer:
What kinds of relationships outside the classroom between counselor education
professors and students are appropriate?
Answer:
Under what circumstances do you think it would be acceptable to terminate
counseling services to a client?
Answer:
To what degree do you believe counselors are competent to administer and interpret
psychological tests?
Answer:
Do you believe a counselor should be allowed to refuse to provide counseling
services to some groups of people who request them? If so, which groups and
in what circumstances?
Answer:
What are some of the major challenges facing the counseling profession today?
Answer:
What kinds of information do prospective students need to receive about a counselor
training program so that they can make an informed decision regarding whether to
apply?
Answer:
How should you get legal advice when a legal issue presents itself?
Answer:
In what ways is cultural competence an ethical issue?
Answer:
What is your opinion of laws that make it a crime for a counselor to fail to report cases
of suspected abuse of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult?
Answer: