EPS 601 Chapter 3 (Ethical Issues in Counseling practice, study guide)

32. Multiple relationship issues can be resolved with ethics codes alone.​ a. True b. False

False See page 49

22. The DSM-5 is based on a medical model of mental illness that defines problems as residing with society rather than with an individual. a. True b. False

False For more information on this topic, see "Considering Ethnic and Cultural Factors in Assessment and Diagnosis" in the text

21. A boundary crossing could potentially benefit a client. a. True b. False

False For more information on this topic, see "Establishing Personal and Professional Boundaries" in the text

24. Overemphasizing cultural differences is always appropriate in a counseling context. a. True b. False

False For more information on this topic, see "Is Counseling Culture-Bound?" in the text.

26. Confidentiality can be considered an absolute.​ a. True b. False

False See page 42

27. Clinicians who work in community mental health agencies, private practice, and other human service settings are generally expected to assess client problems within the framework of the National Association of Social Workers' Diagnostic and Assessment Protocol Manual (3rd ed.).​ a. True b. False

False See page 46

30. The only setting in which one might be forced to manage multiple roles is in community mental health centers.​ a. True b. False

False See page 49

31. The ethics codes mandate avoidance of all dual or multiple relationships.​ a. True b. False

False See page 49

25. A diagnosis provides a working hypothesis that guides the practitioner in understanding the client. a. True b. False

True For more information on this topic, see "Ethical Issues in the Assessment Process" in the text.

23. Contemporary therapy approaches are grounded on a core set of values, which are neither value-neutral nor applicable to all cultures. a. True b. False

True For more information on this topic, see "Is Counseling Culture-Bound?" in the text

28. The central aim of evidence-based practice is to require psychotherapists to base their practice on techniques that have empirical evidence to support their efficacy.​ a. True b. False

True See page 48

29. Human change is complex and difficult to measure beyond such a simplistic level that the change may be meaningless.​ a. True b. False

True See page 48

35. The American Counseling Association uses the term "nonprofessional relationships" when referring to dual or multiple relationships.​ a. True b. False

True See page 49

33. If you are successful in establishing boundaries in various aspects of your personal life, you have a good foundation for creating sound boundaries with clients.​ a. True b. False

True See page 51

34. Becoming an ethical practitioner is not a final destination but a journey that will continue throughout your career.​ a. True b. False

True See page 53

15. Contemporary therapy approaches need to be expanded to include which of the following to make them adequate to work with diverse client populations? a. A multicultural perspective b. Methods to shorten the length of the therapeutic process c. Techniques to deal with unconsciousness d. Strategies to study behaviors of a pluralistic society from an individual perspective

a. A multicultural perspective Reasoning: Contemporary therapy approaches need to be expanded to include a multicultural perspective to make them adequate to work with diverse client populations. See "Ethical Aspects of Evidence-Based Practice."

18. __________ involves the right of clients to be informed about their therapy and to make autonomous decisions pertaining to it. a. Informed consent b. Confidentiality c. Privileged communication d. Breach of confidentiality

a. Informed consent Reasoning: Informed consent involves the right of clients to be informed about their therapy and to make autonomous decisions pertaining to it. See "The Right of Informed Consent."

14. What is the definition of evidence-based practices? a. The integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences b. Practices tailored to focus only on the therapist-client relationship without addressing specific problems and symptoms c. A set of actions focused on therapist-created techniques that do not have an empirical basis d. Standardized therapeutic procedures that are not time limited

a. The integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences Reasoning: The definition of evidence-based practices is the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences. See "Ethical Aspects of Evidence-Based Practice."

3. The ethics codes do not mandate that dual or multiple relationships a. should be avoided or that nonsexual multiple relationships are unethical. b. are clearly grounds for revocation of one's professional license. c. are helpful in case of counseling one's friends or relatives. d. are impossible to avoid.

a. should be avoided or that nonsexual multiple relationships are unethical. Reasoning: The ethics codes do not mandate that dual or multiple relationships should be avoided or that nonsexual multiple relationships are unethical. See "Perspectives on Multiple Relationships."

5. Identify the only case in which confidentiality must not be breached. a. Clients pose a danger to others. b. A child under the age of 16 requests counseling sessions. c. An older adult is being abused. d. The therapist determines that the client needs immediate, involuntary hospitalization.

b. A child under the age of 16 requests counseling sessions. Reasoning: The only case in which confidentiality must not be breached is that a child under the age of 16 requests counseling sessions. See "Exceptions to Confidentiality and Privileged Communication."

17. Which of the following is not a recommendation for counselors to the use of social media? a. Limiting what is shared online b. Limiting the number of contacts based on judgments c. Including clear and thorough social networking policies as part of the informed consent process d. Regularly updating protective settings because social media providers often change their privacy rules

b. Limiting the number of contacts based on judgments Reasoning: Limiting what is shared online, including social policies in the informed consent process, and regularly updating protective settings are the recommendations for counselors to the use of social media. See "Social Media and Boundaries."

2. What is the challenge of fulfilling the spirit of informed consent? a. Tell clients about the nature of confidentiality. b. Strike a balance between giving clients too much information and giving them too little. c. Convince clients that counselors know what they are doing. d. Teach clients about state laws that pertain to counseling.

b. Strike a balance between giving clients too much information and giving them too little. Reasoning: The challenge of fulfilling the spirit of informed consent is to strike a balance between giving clients too much information and giving them too little. See "The Right of Informed Consent."

12. During her sessions, Justine questions whether she is trying to meet her clients' needs or her own needs. Justine is a. being overly analytical. b. actively working toward expanding her self-awareness and learning to recognize her areas of prejudice and vulnerability. c. self-absorbed and insecure. d. behaving unethically since she is preoccupied during her clients' sessions.

b. actively working toward expanding her self-awareness and learning to recognize her areas of prejudice and vulnerability. Reasoning: As a helping professional, Justine is actively working toward expanding her self-awareness and learning to recognize her areas of prejudice and vulnerability. See "Introduction."

11. Counselors may effectively deal with multiple roles and responsibilities by a. understanding the role-playing purpose and the particular situation. b. addressing power differential and boundary issues. c. resolving conflicts on a case-by-case basis. d. following ethics codes.

b. addressing power differential and boundary issues. Reasoning: Counselors may effectively deal with multiple roles and responsibilities by addressing power differential and boundary issues. See "Managing Multiple Relationships in Counseling Practice."

13. In the practice of counseling and psychotherapy, what does assessment refer to ? a. Identifying a specific mental disorder b. Forming an explanation of the causes of the client's difficulties c. Evaluating the relevant factors in a client's life to identify themes for further exploration in the counseling process d. Gaining an account into how the client's problems developed over time

c. Evaluating the relevant factors in a client's life to identify themes for further exploration in the counseling process Reasoning: In the practice of counseling and psychotherapy, assessment refers to evaluating the relevant factors in a client's life to identify themes for further exploration in the counseling process. See "Ethical Issues in the Assessment Process."

6. Which of the following statements is not true about guidelines for ethical practice in counseling and psychotherapy? a. Most professional organizations provide broad guidelines. b. Therapists ultimately have to discover their own guidelines for reasonable practice. c. Practitioners are free to formulate any ethics they choose. d. Ethical issues should be periodically reexamined throughout your professional life.

c. Practitioners are free to formulate any ethics they choose. Reasoning: The third statement is not true about guidelines for ethical practice in counseling and psychotherapy. See "Ethical Decision Making."

19. What is the most recommended practice for therapists using the social media to establish clear boundaries and avoid inappropriate multiple relationships? a. To decide which contacts be kept b. To inform clients at any point of the counseling process that only professional information will be shared c. To separate personal and professional social media d. To work only on the information useful to the counseling process

c. To separate personal and professional social media Reasoning: The most recommended practice for therapists using the social media to establish clear boundaries and avoid inappropriate multiple relationships is to separate personal and professional social media. See "Social Media and Boundaries."

10. Marcus, a therapist in a community agency, recently divorced his wife and seems to be harboring anger towards women in general. His colleagues, who have noticed a change in his attitude and behavior lately, have encouraged him to seek personal counseling to work through his issues. They are a. overreacting to his anger and are overstepping the boundaries by suggesting he go to counseling. b. unwise to suggest counseling since he will not benefit from it because he is a therapist and already knows how to deal with his problems. c. acting ethically by recommending counseling for Marcus; as counselors, they recognize that personal issues that have not been worked through are likely to be projected onto clients. d. being unsupportive colleagues, since they should offer to provide counseling to him and not refer him to a professional outside of the agency.

c. acting ethically by recommending counseling for Marcus; as counselors, they recognize that personal issues that have not been worked through are likely to be projected onto clients. Reasoning: The colleagues of Marcus are acting ethically by recommending counseling for Marcus. See "Introduction."

1. In becoming an ethical practitioner, a crucial task is to a. learn how to arrive at clear-cut answers for difficult situations. b. identify a specific ethical code as the source of answers to ethical dilemmas. c. exercise prudent judgment when it comes to interpreting and applying ethical principles to specific situations. d. avoid making any mistakes in counseling practice.

c. exercise prudent judgment when it comes to interpreting and applying ethical principles to specific situations. Reasoning: In becoming an ethical practitioner, a crucial task is to exercise prudent judgment when it comes to interpreting and applying ethical principles to specific situations. See "Ethical Decision Making."

9. Both the feminist perspective and the postmodern approaches charge that diagnoses a. are an appropriate part of counseling sessions. b. are generally helpful to women clients. c. ignore societal contexts. d. are an essential part of the medical model they follow.

c. ignore societal contexts. Reasoning: Both the feminist perspective and the postmodern approaches charge that diagnoses ignore societal contexts. See "Considering Ethnic and Cultural Factors in Assessment and Diagnosis."

20. Which of the following need to considered when working with diverse client populations? a. Social and economic variables b. Social and environmental variables c. Environmental and biological variables d. Cultural and environmental variables

d. Cultural and environmental variables Reasoning: Cultural and environmental variables need to be considered when working with diverse client populations. See "Ethical Issues From a Multicultural Perspective."

16. Which of the following would be the most effective solution when therapists make use of technology? a. Sharing appropriate information with clients b. Following practices that limit the use of technology c. Resolving transference and countertransference issues in the virtual relationship between the therapist and the client d. Setting professional boundaries

d. Setting professional boundaries Reasoning: The most effective solution when therapists make use of technology is setting professional boundaries. See "Ethical Concerns with the Use of Technology."

4. In regard to maintaining confidentiality, what would be the best course of action taken by counselors for their clients? a. Disclosing confidential matters to only those who claim to have legal privilege b. Withholding certain information from clients early in the counseling process c. Revealing or concealing information for certain clients based on their judgmental stance d. Specifying it in informed consent and discussing their relationships with a supervisor or a colleague

d. Specifying it in informed consent and discussing their relationships with a supervisor or a colleague Reasoning: In regard to maintaining confidentiality, counselors should specify it in informed consent and discuss their relationships with a supervisor or a colleague. See "Dimensions of Confidentiality."`

8. Clients have a right to know about __________ before making highly personal disclosures. a. their therapist's qualifications and personal information b. the general goals of the therapist during personal counseling c. the approximate length and details of the therapist's personal relationships d. limits of confidentiality

d. limits of confidentiality Reasoning: Clients have a right to know about the limits of confidentiality before making highly personal disclosures. See "Dimensions of Confidentiality."

7. A therapist should consult with colleagues or specialists under all circumstances except a. when multiple relationships are potentially problematic. b. when facing an ethical problem. c. when losing objectivity. d. when discussing past life choices.

d. when discussing past life choices. Reasoning: A therapist should consult with colleagues or specialists when multiple relationships are potentially problematic, when facing an ethical problem, and when losing objectivity. See "Perspectives on Multiple Relationships."