When counseling a client from a racial, ethnic, or cultural group different from the
counselor’s, it is important for the counselor to remember that
a. basically, all people are alike although they may look different.
b. although certain groups share similar traits or beliefs, each individual is unique and
may not be like most others from his or her group.
c. since certain groups share similar traits or beliefs, the counselor should begin by
assuming that this particular person is like most others.
d. stereotyping is often useful in understanding differences.
e. the counselor should demonstrate that she or he understands the client by using words
or phrases associated with the client’s racial, ethnic, or cultural group.
Answer:
The most structured form of collaboration between counselors and other health
professionals is
a. coordination of services
b. consultation
c. teamwork.
d. medication monitoring
e. conferring
Answer:
A counselor’s self-disclosure in a counseling session
a. may be acceptable if the counselor believes the disclosure will benefit the client.
b. is acceptable if the client is not uncomfortable with the counselor’s disclosure.
c. is encouraged to demonstrate that the counselor is genuine and human.
d. usually results in harm to the client.
e. is a practice that is universally accepted by counseling professionals.
Answer:
Privileged communication statutes
a. ensure that counselors will never have to repeat information clients tell them in a
counseling session.
b. protect clients from having confidential communications with their counselors
disclosed in a court of law without their permission.
c. protect the privacy of counselors.
d. make it a crime for counselors to reveal confidential communications with their
clients unless their clients give them written permission to disclose the information.
e. state that counselors will lose their licenses if they reveal confidential information
clients tell them in counseling sessions.
Answer:
When a member expresses a desire to drop out of an ongoing group, the counselor
should
a. persuade the member to stay in the group for the good of the group
b. bring the group to a close and start over with members who wish to continue
c. encourage the member to discuss the decision with the group
d. notify the remaining members in writing of that member’s decision
e. assume that the group is dysfunctional
Answer:
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.
Answer:
When a counselor must render a DSM-5 diagnosis before a client may be reimbursed
for mental health care services, the counselor
a. should avoid rendering a diagnosis that might stigmatize the client.
b. should always choose a diagnosis that is reimbursable by the health care
organization.
c. must render a diagnosis that is consistent with the diagnoses that have been rendered
previously by other health care providers.
d. must render the proper diagnosis, whether or not the client will be reimbursed.
e. may choose one of the diagnoses that is reimbursable by the health care organization
if necessary.
Answer:
When a counselor determines that a gay or lesbian client may have been illegally
discriminated against, the counselor should
a. insist that the client seek immediate legal advice.
b. help the client determine whether or not to seek legal advice.
c. tell the client that he or she has been discriminated against and that the client should
seek to have the situation rectified.
d. offer to find out the legal ramifications of the situation and report them back to the
client.
e. inform the client that he or she should seek legal advice from an attorney who
advocates for gay rights
Answer:
All of the following are steps toward professionalization EXCEPT
a. getting state laws passed that regulate the practice of the profession.
b. changing names to reduce identification with other professions
c. developing a code of ethics.
d. requiring members of the profession to possess specialized knowledge and skills.
e. offering services that are identical to services offered by other similar professions.
Answer:
The only dual relationships that are prohibited by the ACA Code of Ethics are those
a. involving loans from the client to the counselor.
b. involving a sexual relationship between the client and the counselor.
c. that a reasonable person would object to.
d. in which the counselor and client both knew before the dual relationship began knew
that it might be problematic, but went ahead and entered into it anyway.
e. involving business relationships between the counselor and the client .
Answer:
When uncertain about the privileged status of information requested for disclosure
through a subpoena, a counselor should consult with
a. the client whose information is being requested.
b. other mental health professionals.
c. another licensed counselor.
d. an attorney who represents the counselor or his or her employer.
e. the attorney who sent the subpoena.
Answer:
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
Answer:
When a counselor who is working under supervision shares confidential information
about clients with her or his supervisor
a. the counselor is legally responsible if the supervisor inappropriately discloses the
confidential information to a third party
b. privileged communication is destroyed
c. this is acceptable behavior because the supervisor needs the information in order to
supervise effectively
d. the information should be shared verbally, but not put in writing
e. the counselor is unethically breaching client confidentiality
Answer:
With respect to what mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose using the
DSM system
a. only psychologists and psychiatrists are qualified to utilize this system
b. counselors do not receive adequate training at the master’s degree level to be
qualified to use this system
c. only psychiatrists should use the DSM system, because it is based on the medical
model
d. managed health care companies will reimburse only psychiatrists for DSM diagnoses
e. the DSM manual specifically includes counselors as users of the DSM system
Answer:
The primary purpose of diagnosis is to
a. label clients.
b. facilitate effective treatment.
c. help clients gain future employment.
d. obtain insurance reimbursement.
e. show that a particular client has a verifiable mental disorder.
Answer:
The following are true of distance counseling services EXCEPT:
a. it can provide clients with greater access to counseling services.
b. it can present issues related to licensure and the ability to practice across stateand
international boundaries.
c. is controversial because the ACA Code of Ethics does not address this practice.
d. credentialing is available for counselors interested in distance counseling.
e. counselors must take steps to verify clients’ identities.
Answer:
When documenting for self-protection, counselors should not include
a. exact times and dates
b. counselors’ thoughts, diagnoses, and conclusions
c. direct quotations and statements
d. a great deal of detail
e. factual information
Answer:
When you have an ethical question and you are having trouble making a decision, you
should
a. consult with colleagues.
b. take advice from an attorney.
c. ask the ethics committee of the state branch of ACA.
d. consult a licensing board.
e. avoid mention of your decision-making process in your case notes.
Answer:
Law and ethics differ 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.
Answer:
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.
Answer:
The three major types of records that counselors keep are
a. clinical case notes, financial, and treatment plan
b. phone and other correspondence, clinical case notes, and treatment plan
c. administrative, financial, and clinical case notes
d. recordings, clinical case notes, and administrative
e. typed, hand-written, and audio
Answer:
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
Answer:
Counselors engage in many activities that could result in ethical complaints against
them. They must report
a. cases of suspected child abuse.
b. clients who commit minor crimes.
c. child custody evaluators who are biased.
d. breaches of confidentiality by counseling group members.
e. directives from a supervisor that seem ill-advised.
Answer:
In the event a counselor has a client with a large bill for services that is several months
late, the counselor should
a. sue the client.
b. threaten the client with a law suit if payment is not made.
c. report the client to the state licensure board.
d. forget the bill and take steps in the future to prevent these bills from developing.
e. pay a bill collector to collect the money due.
Answer:
Before students agree to serve as research assistants, counselor educators should discuss
and provide
a. assurance that those who decline to participate will not be penalized.
b. a clarification of expectations regarding who will do which parts of the work.
c. an agreement regarding the type of acknowledgment students will receive when the
research is published.
d. a time-line to complete the various tasks.
e. all of the above.
Answer:
Malpractice is a type of civil lawsuit that can be filed against counseling professionals
for practicing in a manner that leads to
a. injury to a recipient of their services.
b. dissatisfaction with the result of the counseling experience.
c. divorce, when a married couple has sought counseling.
d. the development of new behaviors that are counterproductive to clients, but not
injurious.
e. injury to other counselors.
Answer:
It is TRUE that
a. the majority of the complaints filed with state licensing boards against counselors
involve claims of breach of confidentiality.
b. research clearly demonstrates that counselor assurances of confidentiality encourage
client disclosures of personal and intimate information.
c. when counselors share confidential client information with other professionals
involved in a client’s care, the counselors should first obtain client permission to share
the information.
d. counselors should make the same guarantees of confidentiality in group counseling
that they make when counseling individuals.
e. due to concerns about confidentiality, counselors should never use a family member
as an interpreter when counseling a client who does not speak the same language as the
counselor.
Answer:
When a husband subpoenas a counselor to reveal information in a court hearing that
was provided by the wife in joint couples counseling sessions, and the wife objects to
the information being revealed, the counselor
a. should refuse to do so because the counselor would violate the wife’s privacy.
b. agree to reveal the information because to refuse to do so would not be in the best
interest of the husband.
c. has to reveal the information because privileged communication statutes never cover
married couples counseling.
d. should consult with an attorney because laws and court cases vary as to whether the
counselor will have to reveal the information over the wife’s objection.
e. should ask the wife to waive her privacy rights.
Answer:
Most written materials are legally protected from the time they are created until _____
years after the author’s death.
a. 5
b. 50
c. 200
d. 300
e. 500
Answer:
The primary difference between counselors and other mental health professionals is
a. only counselors provide mental health counseling services
b. only counselors use the term “counseling” to describe the service that they provide to
clients
c. counseling is the primary professional service that counselors provide
d. counselors do not diagnose mental illnesses
e. the primary service that counselors provide to clients is to connect them with
resources in their communities that can help the clients achieve greater wellness
Answer:
Research has shown that
a. clients are unlikely to drop out of counseling prematurely if their counselors are
warm and empathic
b. counselors are generally willing to continue to counsel clients, at no cost to clients,
when the clients’ insurance benefits have run out
c. at least 30% of clients in counseling drop out prematurely
d. clients very rarely drop out of counseling without giving the counselor an
explanation
e. the average adult client completes 6 counseling sessions no matter how many
sessions are authorized by the client’s health insurance provider
Answer:
The court cases in Bruff and Walden demonstrated that
a. counselors with strong religious beliefs against abortion should refer clients who
wish to explore whether or not to terminate a pregnancy
b. counselors who work in secular community agencies should not discuss religion with
clients
c. counselors should carefully explain each possible exception to privacy before
beginning the counseling relationship.
d. counselors may be terminated from their employment if they take rigid positions
regarding referring LGBTQIQ clients
e. counselors can successfully claim that their Title VII of the Civil Rights Act have
been violated if they refuse to counsel LGBTQIQ clients
Answer:
All of the following are fraudulent health care practices EXCEPT
a. continuing to see a client at risk of harming self for counseling free of charge after his
or her health care benefits have run out.
b. providing family counseling services (which are not reimbursable) and reporting that
individual counseling services are being provided (which are reimbursable).
c. waiving the co-payment when a co-payment is required.
d. billing for a missed session and indicating the client attended the session because
missed sessions are not reimbursable.
e. reporting that an approved professional is providing direct services to a client when
the services actually are being provided by a counselor who is not approved.
Answer:
An agreement for clinical supervision between a supervisor and supervisee when the
supervisee has an administrative supervisor at a work site should
a. ensure that the supervisee understands that the clinical supervisor is the one whose
directives must be followed.
b. emphasize the co-equal status of the clinical and administrative supervisors.
c. state that the clinical supervisor defers to the authority of the administrative
supervisor.
d. state that the counselor should contact the clinical supervisor if there is an emergency
situation at work.
e. be worded in such a manner that the supervisee understands that the clinical
supervisor is legally responsible for the counselors’ activities during work hours.
Answer:
What do you think should be done if a counselor becomes addicted to alcohol and is not
counseling effectively?
Answer:
What kind of help does a counselor need in order to set up a private practice?
Answer:
Why should counselors keep records?
Answer:
How would you define ‘social justice”?
Answer:
Some studies have shown that clients are not very concerned about privacy or
confidentiality when they seek counseling services. What do you think about such
findings?
Answer:
How do you respond when your friends and relatives ask you what you are studying in
graduate school?
Answer:
What would you do if you believed your clinical supervisor was not competent to
provide you with quality supervision services?
Answer:
To avoid accusations of unethical or illegal behavior, the authors suggested the
following regarding counselor self-disclosure:
a. Counselors should avoid self-disclosure as it crosses professional boundaries.
b. Counselors may engage in self-disclosure as long as the disclosure benefits the client
and not the counselor’s personal needs.
c. Counselors should only self-disclose personal information that clients can find on the
Internet.
d. Counselors should document all self-disclosures in clinical case notes.
e. Counselors should consult with supervisors and attorneys before making
self-disclosures in sessions.
Answer:
What do you think are the most common reasons that clients bring malpractice lawsuits
against counselors and other mental health professionals?
Answer:
Why should counselors consult with an attorney if they receive a subpoena?
Answer:
Why do you think the U.S. Government has required universities and other
organizations that conduct research to establish Institutional Review Boards that review
research proposals to ensure that human subjects are protected from harm?
Answer:
How do you think you would react if you were a licensed counselor and received a
registered letter from your licensure board informing you that you had been accused of
professional incompetence by a former client?
Answer:
Do you think it wise to avoid telling anyone if you receive a notification of a complaint
against you? Why or why not?
Answer:
What kinds of information do you think clients need, in order to be able to give
their fully informed consent to enter into a counseling relationship? When does the
information given become too much information so that it inhibits clients from entering
into counseling relationships?
Answer:
What do you think should happen to clients’ records after they die?
Answer:
Do you think a sexual relationship between a counselor and a former client is ever
acceptable? Why or why not?
Answer:
How can you ensure that you are competent to provide counseling services to the
culturally diverse clients who may seek your assistance?
Answer:
What are some steps that counselors should take to safeguard the welfare of their
clients?
Answer: