Introduction to Clinical Counseling and Ethics

Within the counseling profession, the primary goal of counseling is to: a. Help clients accomplish wellness b. Cure illnesses of clients c. Identify and treat mental illness d. Understand the illnesses with which clients present for counseling e. Help clients understand unresolved emotional issues

A. Help clients accomplish wellness

Within a counseling profession, the primary national voluntary certification agency is: a. American Mental Health Counselors Association b. American Counseling Association c. American Association for Counseling and Development d. National Board for Certified Counselors e. National Registry for Certified Counselors

D. National Board for Certified Counselors

A core belief that members of the counseling profession hold concerning helping others with their mental health concerns is: a. It is is important to identify the illness presented by the person asking for assistance b. The goal is to help the individual return to the level of functioning enjoyed before the illness occurred c. Remediation is the most appropriate means in dealing with emotional and person problems d. Prevention and early intervention are the most appropriate means to deal with emotional and personal problems e. Giving support often is all that is necessary for people to resolve their personal crises

D. Prevention and early intervention are the most appropriate means to deal with emotional and personal problems

Counselors who practice from a developmental perspective: a. Focus on the physical development of their clients because physical development has a significant impact on the emotional well-being of clients b. Focus on the intellectual development of their clients because clients must be taught to understand themselves and function more effectively c. See personal development as a difficult goal to attain that requires the help of counselors who understand the human condition d. View most problems people encounter as natural and normal because all developmental stage of life bring challenges e. Believe that all stages of life traumatize clients and the counselor's role is to treat the trauma their clients have expereinced

D. View most problems people encounter as natural and normal because all developmental stages of life bring challenges

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 speciality areas

a. "Friend" their clients

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.

a. An ethical right to privacy and confidentiality, but no legal right in most states.

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 weather 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

a. Ask his or her supervisor to obtain a legal opinion as to weather the records should be copied for the attorney who has issued the subpoena

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

a. Avoid encouraging the victim to leave the relationship until safety can be assured

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

a. Cases of suspected child abuse

Key points with respect to diagnosis include all of the following EXCEPT: a. Clients should not be told the diagnosis that has been assigned to them b. Counselors must be alert to sources of bias against women and minority group members in the diagnostic process c. Counselors should cooperate with physicians when clients may have a physical condition that is contributing to their mental or emotional problems or when they could benefit from taking medications for their condition d. Multicultural considerations are of paramount importance in diagnosis because all mental disorders occur in and are defined by a cultural context e. Counselors are guilty of insurance fraud when they do not diagnosis honestly and accurately and they can be subject to both civil and criminal liability

a. Clients should not be told the diagnosis that has been assigned to them

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 the ACA d. Consult a licensing board e. Avoid mention of your decision-making process in your case notes

a. Consult with colleagues

The current 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 that they have used marijuana e. Advises counselors to report to police any instances of "sexting" among adolescents

a. Contains few standards specifically related to counseling children

The ______________ credential is offered through the Center for Credentialing and Education by NBCC for those interested in specializing in distance counseling a. Distance Certified Counselor (DCC) b. National Distance Counselor (NDC) c. Certified Distance Counselor (CDC) d. National Certified Distance Counselor (NCDC) e. Distance Certified Counseling Specialist (DCCS)

a. Distance Certified Counselor (DCC)

Distressed counselors or counselors suffering from burnout are terms used to refer to: a. Incompetent counselors b. Counselors who have committed malpractice c. Counselors who have had their licenses revoked d. Impaired counselors e. Counselors who have recently been fired from their jobs

a. Incompetent counselors

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

a. Injury to a recipient of their services

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. Ethics and laws are often in conflict because they are so different from one another

a. Laws dictate minimum standards of behavior that society will tolerate, whereas ethics represent the ideal standards expected by the profession

All of the situations below may lead to client dependency EXCEPT: a. Managed care programs that limit the number of counseling sessions b. The requirement in internship that counselors in training have a minimum number of client contact hours c. The brief that a counselor is effective if the client returns for counseling sessions on a regular basis d. A counselor has a strong need to be needed by others e. It is less risky for clients to maintain close relationships with counselors than with others in their lives

a. Managed care programs that limit the number of counseling sessions

Students who have not been able to demonstrate the skills needed to be effective counselors: a. Must be given opportunities to remediate their deficiencies before a dismissal decision is made b. Are required by CACREP to repeat the practicum course c. Are required to switch to a different major d. Should be endorsed by faculty for graduation but not for employment as counselors e. Should be required to take a year's leave of absence from the training program

a. Must be given opportunities to remediate their deficiencies before a dismissal decision is made

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

a. Protect and promote the welfare of the client

When choosing and implementing a counseling technique to use when counseling clients, counselors should be aware that: a. Research has demonstrated that some techniques are more effective than others in working with particular concerns and mental disorders b. Conversion or reparative therapy should be used cautiously c. Counselors should avoid choosing techniques based on the counselors' theoretical orientation d. Clients depend on counselors to choose the best techniques and should not be asked to help select the techniques to be implemented e. It is best not to discuss potential risks of counseling techniques as clients might be frightened into terminating counseling prematurely

a. Research has demonstrated that some techniques are more effective than others in working with particular concerns and mental disorders

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 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 autonomy e. Sacrificing beneficence in order to promote fidelity

a. Sacrificing client autonomy in order to prevent harm and do good

If a counselor were to purposefully make false oral statements that damaged the reputation of another mental health professional, the counselor could be sued for: a. Slander b. Libel c. Malicious harm d. Absolute privilege e. insubordination

a. Slander

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 essential to list all relevant credentials on their business cards

a. The ACA Code of Ethics imposes strict criteria and restrictions on advertising

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 antional legislation that ensured education for all handicapped persons

a. The Russians launching Spunik

The most important resource for counselors to use in learning about different racial, cultural, or ethnic groups is: a. Their clients b. Their colleagues who are from racial, cultural, or ethnic groups different from their own c. Professional associations that focus on multicultural counseling issues d. Books on multicultural counseling e. Professional journal articles on multicultural counseling

a. Their clients

Studies regarding cultural bias in diagnosis have shown that: a. Because most clients in counseling are women, diagnosis tends to be less accurate for male clients than for female clients b. African American clients are more likely to be diagnosed with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia c. Hispanic clients are less likely to be diagnosed with depressive disorders d. Counselors, compared to other mental health professionals, are less likely to allow gender stereotypes to influence their diagnoses e. Female clients are less likely to be prescribed psychotropic medications

b. African American clients are more likely to be diagnosed with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia

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

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

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

b. Are expressly forbidden in the ACA Code of Ethics

When documenting for self-protection: a. Documentation should be relatively vague so as not to reveal too much information b. As much detail as possible (e.g., dates, times of events, and exact words spoken) should be included c. In the event a counselor realizes that documentation should have been occurring sooner, the counselor should back-date the documentation rather than write a summary of what has happened up to that point in time d. Counselors document to avoid responsibility for clinical decisions that were made or actions that were taken e. Counselors should avoid including information related to disagreements they have had with a client

b. As much detail as possible (e.g., dates, times of events, and exact words spoken) should be included

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 code 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

b. Believe that their duty is to comply with basic "must" and "must not" statements in codes of ethics, and nothing more

Boundaries serve to protect the welfare of clients because a. Counselors are vulnerable in counseling relationships b. Clients are vulnerable in counseling relationships c. Counselors and clients would often become friends if boundaries did not exist d. Counselors and clients naturally are attracted to each other e. Clients might use counselors to get their personal needs met if there were no boundaries

b. Clients are vulnerable in counseling relationships

If a formal ethics complaint is filed against you, you should NOT: a. Respond fully and in writing to each of the charges made b. Contact the client who filed the complaint to see if you can work things out c. Consult with an attorney d. Submit as much documentation as you can that will help the ethics committee in its deliberations e. Contact your professional liability insurance carrier

b. Contact the client who filed the complaint to see if you can work things out

To avoid accusations of unethical or illegal behavior, the authors suggested the following regarding counselor self-disclosure: a. Counselors should avoid self-disclosure 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 session

b. Counselors may engage in self-disclosure as long as the disclosure benefits the client and not the counselor's personal needs

Which of the following statements is most appropriate regarding clinical case notes? a. Counselors should not take clinical case notes if they are worried about the notes being subpoenaed or later seen by the client or anyone else b. Counselors should take the clinical notes they need in order to function effectively as professionals c. It is reasonable to assume that clinical case notes will not be read by anyone other than the counselor who wrote them d. Writing illegible case notes is a protection against being called upon to reveal sensitive information pursuant to a subpoena

b. Counselors should take the clinical notes they need in order to function effectively as professionals

The term "culturally encapsulated counselor" refers to a counselor who: a. Counsels in a setting where the clients are not diverse b. Defines reality according to one set of cultural assumptions and fails to evaluate other viewpoints, which renders the counselors insensitive to cultural variations c. Understands that all counseling is cross cultural d. Considers evidence that challenges his or her assumptions e. Has internalized some of society's biases

b. Defines reality according to one set of cultural assumptions and fails to evaluate other viewpoints, which renders the counselors insensitive to cultural variations

In distance counseling, counselors may be subject to: a. Only the ethical standards developed by the state counseling associations in which the client resides b. Ethical standards developed by ACA and state licensing boards, and the laws and regulations of both the counselor's and client's physical locations c. Ethical standards, but not legal requirements, as laws do not yet address distance counseling d. Only the ethical standards developed by the state counseling association in which the counselor resides e. Only ethical standards developed by NBCC for credentialed distance counselors

b. Ethical standards developed by ACA and state licensing boards, and the laws and regulations of both the counselor's and client's physical locations

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

b. Facilitate effective treatment

Generally, counselors create clinical case notes: a. To protect themselves in the event they are later sued b. For their own use, so that they may be effective counselors c. For insurance companies who reimburse clients for the cost of mental health services d. To keep up with whether the client attended sessions on particular days and whether the client paid for the sessions that were rendered e. So that they may reflect upon their counseling sessions and improve their skills

b. For their own use, so that they may be effective counselors

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

b. Help the client determine whether or not to seek legal advice

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 that it might be problematic, but went ahead and entered into it anyway e. Involving business relationships between the counselor and the client

b. Involving a sexual relationship between the client and the counselor

According to the United State Small Business Administration, the percentages of businesses that fail are: a. Over 5% fail in the first year, and 15% within the first 5 years b. Over 50% fail in the first year, and 95% fail within the first 5 years c. Over 10% fail in the first year, and 25% fail within the first 5 years d. Over 95% fail in the first year, and 99% fail within the first 5 years e. Over 15% fail in the first year, and 35% fail within the first 5 years

b. Over 50% fail in the first year, and 95% fail within the first 5 years

Because counselors have a fiduciary relationship with their clients, counselors must: a. Ensure their client's finances are being handled properly b. Protect the best interests of the clients and not benefit inappropriately from the counselor-client relationship c. Ensure that clients do what is best for themselves d. Act as a client's guardian if the client cannot care for himself or herself e. Make arrangements for clients to be taken care of by the family members or close friends if their clients can no longer care for themselves

b. Protect the best interests of the clients and not benefit inappropriately from the counselor-client relationship

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which is sometimes referred to as "Buckley Amendment," affects all: a. Community mental health centers in the United States b. Public educational institutions c. Private or parochial educational institutions d. Public hospitals e. Private hospitals

b. Public educational institutions

Multicultural considerations were not given extensive attention in the ACA Code of Ethics until: a. The first version adopted in 1961 b. The second version adopted in 1974 c. The third version adopted in 1981 d. The fourth version adopted in 1988 e. The fifth version adopted in 1995

b. The second version adopted in 1974

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 a least a master's degree

b. Through which official state agencies certify individuals as qualified to hold certain state jobs

Counselors may view a client's social media profile: a. Never b. When the client has given the counselor consent to view the information c. If the counselor has concerns about a client's safety d. To determine whether the client shares acquaintances with the counselor e. To verify a client's identity

b. When the client has given the counselor consent to view the information

While you are a counseling graduate student: a. You have a different code of ethics from the one practicing counselors b. You must follow the same code of ethics as practicing counselors c. You will not be held accountable for making ethical mistakes d. The ethical standards you are held to are less rigorous than those imposed on practicing counselors e. You do not have a code of ethics that applies to you

b. You must follow the same code of ethics as practicing counselors

While principle ethics asks the questions, "What should I do?" virtue ethics asks the question, a. "What would an ethical counselor do?" b. "What should counselors who want to follow the law do?" c. "Who should I be?" d. "Who am I?" e. "What does virtue mean?"

c. "Who should I be?"

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 judgement 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

c. A boundary crossing

A "sliding scale" in counseling refers to: a. A chart that indicates the degree to which a client is functioning b. A system of rotation that determines when a counselor is "on call" for the weekend c. A fee structure based on the client's family income and family size d. A fee structure based on the net worth of the individual e. The degree to which a counselor is willing to render a diagnosis to meet the requirements of an insurance company or third party payer

c. A fee structure based on the client's family income and family size

With respect to a client's right to choose the time and means of his or her death, the ACA Code of Ethics: a. Requires counselors to uphold the client's confidentiality when the client discloses such an intention b. Does not address this issue directly c. Allows counselors the option to maintain confidentiality depending upon applicable laws and the specific circumstances of the situation after seeking consultation or supervision from appropriate professional and legal parties d. Requires counselors to warn a physician or family member that the client is considering taking his or her life e. Acknowledges that counselors are not properly trained to assist clients with a medical issues such of end-of-life decision

c. Allows counselors the option to maintain confidentiality depending upon applicable laws and specific circumstances of the situation after seeking consultation or supervision from appropriate professional and legal parties

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

c. Are influenced by their families of origin and their cultures, among other factors

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

c. Because there are few, absolute right answers to ethical practice questions, consultation with counseling colleagues is very important when making ethical decisions

The most significant problem within the counseling profession today, according to the authors of the text, appears to be: a. Receiving third party reimbursement b. Increasing salaries for master's level clinicians c. Becoming a united and socially recognized profession d. conducting more experimental designed research studies e. Convincing legislators to make counseling services available to everyone for a reasonable charge

c. Becoming a united and societally recognized profession

It is vital for counselors to become aware of their own personal needs and values so that they: a. Know which of their values they can encourage clients to adopt b. Can avoid accepting clients who hold values that are different from their own values c. Can avoid getting their own personal needs met through their counseling relationships d. Can give clients advice that is congruent with the counselor's value system e. Can choose a counseling specialty that allows them to get their personal needs met while providing counseling services to others

c. Can avoid getting their own personal needs met through their counseling relationships

Regarding counselors' personal values, counselors a. Must always avoid disclosing their own personal values to their clients b. Should avoid discussions of values of their own if their own values conflict with those of their clients c. Could disclose their values to a client, if it is possible to do so in a way that conveys to the client that the client's values can be accepted or rejected without risking the relationship d. Could disclose their values to a client, but only if the counselor holds the same values as the client e. Should disclose their values to clients so that clients see the counselor as genuine and authentic

c. Could disclose their values to a client, if it is possible to do so in a way that conveys to the client that the client's value can be accepted or rejected without risking the relationship

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 illness 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

c. Counseling is the primary professional service that counselors provide

Which of the following is NOT information that must be provided to prospective students before they enter a program? a. Evaluation criteria and procedures b. Program subject matter c. Faculty advisor assignment d. Dismissal policies and procedures e. Length of time for program completion

c. Faculty advisor assignment

Friendships with former clients: a. Are prohibited by the ACA Code of Ethics b. Specifically are allowed, under specific conditions, by the ACA Code of Ethics c. Generally should be avoided because they create a potential for problems d. Occur infrequently because most counselors disapprove of them in all circumstances e. Have been entered into by about 95% of all counselors

c. Generally should be avoided because they create a potential for problems

Cultural competencies in working with LGBTQIA+ clients include: a. Realizing that sexual orientation is likely to be the focus of counseling b. Understanding that some clients will need to be referred for conversion therapy c. Having a comfort and familiarity with LGBTQIA+ sexuality and how it is expressed d. Understanding the dichotomous nature of sexuality e. Understanding that LGBTQIA+ individuals no longer experience a significant degree of societal stigmatization

c. Having a comfort and familiarity with LGBTQIA+ sexuality and how it is expressed

Professionalism in counseling includes all of the following EXCEPT: a. Being intrinsically motivated to achieve the best practices in counseling b. Taking pride in one's profession c. Holding a doctorate in counseling or a related area d. Understanding the history and philosophy of the profession e. Representing the profession to the public in a positive and vigorous manner

c. Holding a doctorate in counseling or a related area

According to Ridley, examples of unintentional racism included all of the following EXCEPT: a. Avoiding the issue of cultural differences by claiming to be color blind and treating all people as if they were alike b. Assuming that a client's problems are due to the client's cultural background c. Interpreting a lack of trust in the counselor to the fact that the counselor is of a different race than the client d. Facilitating co-dependency relationships with clients of different cultural backgrounds out of a need to be accepted e. Misinterpreting a client's culturally learned patterns of communicating or behaving

c. Interpreting a lack of trust in the counselor to the fact that the counselor is of a different race than the client

The practice of providing counseling services over the Internet: a. Has been determined to be unethical by the American Counseling Association Ethics Committee b. Is neither as effective as providing counseling services face-to-face c. Is controversial d. Is rare e. Is risky because no guidelines have yet been developed by professional associations

c. Is controversial

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 state and 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

c. Is controversial because the ACA Code of Ethics does not address this practice

Strong clients' records electronically: a. Provides a higher level of security than paper records b. Is not cost effective c. Is the preferred method for storing client records d. Ensures confidentiality e. Prevents unauthorized individuals from viewing records

c. Is the preferred method for storing client records

In order for a counselor to be competent to engage in group work, the counselor: a. Must be a member of ASGW b. Must have the training outlined in the ASGW Professional Standards for the Training of Group Workers c. Must have has a minimum of group work preparation and supervised experience d. Must be certified by ASGW e. Must have had at least two graduate courses in group work and have completed a 600 hour internship in group counseling

c. Must have has a minimum of group work preparation and supervised experience

A counselor who is beginning a group: a. Should require all group members to sign a pledge to keep information from the group confidential b. Should explain that nothing is confidential because group members do not have the same obligation as professional counselors to keep information private c. Should explain that while the counselor will keep things confidential, there is no guarantee others in the group will do the same d. Should guarantee all information in the group will remain private e. Should explain that group members who violate the confidentiality of other group members will be reported to the counselor licensure board

c. Should explain that while the counselor will keep things confidential, there is no guarantee others in the group will do the same

Legal principles view the contents of a client's counseling records as belonging to: a. The client's counselor b. The agency where the counseling took place c. The client d. The court that has requested the records e. The insurance company that paid for the counseling sessions

c. The client

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

d. Abused spouses or domestic partners

In determining whether a child is a danger to self or others, the counselor 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

d. Assure the client of complete confidentiality

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 clients in the decision-making process c. Consider the moral principles d. Consult with an attorney e. Identity desired outcomes

d. Consult with an attorney

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

d. Counselors may be terminated from their employment if they take rigid positions regarding referring LGBTQIQ clients

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

d. Demonstrate that they hold a master's degree from a CACREP-accredited program

Competence is most closely related to the moral principle of: a. Fiduciary relationships b. Professionalism c. Integrity d. Do not harm e. Autonomy

d. Do no harm

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

d. Establish collaborative relationships with parents

If a counselor wants a person other than a biological parent (such as a step-parent or grandparent) to have confidential information regarding a child client, a simple solution is to: a. Tell the step-parent or grandparent to go to court and get a court order giving them access to the information b. Get a signed statement from the step-parent or grandparent that they will not reveal the information to anyone else once it is given to them c. Get a signed statement from the child allowing the counselor to disclose information to the step-parent or grandparent d. Get a signed statement from one of the biological parents allowing the counselor to disclose information to the step-parent or grandparent e. Ask the step-parent or grandparent to prove the child is living with them and then it is acceptable to give them access to confidential information regarding the child

d. Get a signed statement from one of the biological parents allowing the counselor to disclose information to the step-parent or grandparent

To avoid being sued by a client for abandonment, counselors are advised to: a. Terminate a counseling relationship if the client becomes angry with the counselor b. Refer the client if the client gets into a life-threatening crisis situation c. Give notice of termination orally, but put nothing in writing d. Give the client adequate notice that the counselor is terminating the counseling relationship e. Continue to see the client if the client refuses a referral to another counselor

d. Give the client adequate notice that the counselor is terminating the counseling relationship

Which of the following statements regarding counselor competence is FALSE? a. Once counselor has become licensed, the burden of ensuring competent services falls on the counselors themselves b. Competence in counseling is difficult to define c. There is a continuum of professional expertise with gross negligence at one end and maximum effectiveness at the other extreme d. Licensure ensures that practitioners are competent to do what their licensure permit them to do e. Counselors are ethically required to counsel only within the boundaries of their competence

d. Licensure ensures that practitioners are competent to do what their licensure permit them to do

A fundamental tenet of the wellness model is that: a. Traditionally, it has been espoused by members of all the helping professions (e.g., counselors, social workers, and psychologists) rather than by medical professionals b. The primary goal is to alleviate suffering c. People can transcend their environmental limitations d. Mental health exists along a continuum e. Scientific principles are applied to cure the client's identified mental illness

d. Mental illness exists along a continuum

The gatekeeping responsibilities of counselor educators may involve all of the following EXCEPT: a. Developing a professional development plan for. 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

d. Providing a formal hearing if a student is dismissed for academic reasons

Which of the following behaviors would constitute insubordination? a. Refusing to carry out a directive of a psychiatrist who works for a different company b. Refusing to carry out a directive of a police officer who is investigating a crime at your place of work c. Refusing to carry out a directive of your co-worker who has seniority d. Refusing to carry out a directive of your immediate supervisor when that directive does not violate any laws or company policies e. Refusing to carry out a directive of a state inspector who is visiting your work site to perform a legally required inspection

d. Refusing to carry out a directive of your immediate supervisor when that directive does not violate any laws or company policies

When a counselor communicates with a client using e-mail: a. The counselor should never include anything that is confidential because it is unethical to do so b. The client's business e-mail address should never be used because employers often read the e-mail messages of their employees c. The client should be told to avoid using e-mail to set or change appointment times because it is impossible to tell whether the counselor received the message that was sent d. The client should be advised that e-mail messages can always be retrieved and that e-mail systems are not as secure as other means of communication e. The counselor should never print out the e-mail messages because the client's confidentiality would be compromised by the existence of paper copies

d. The client should be advised that e-mail messages can always be retrieved and that e-mail systems are not as secure as other means of communication

Family counselors often view the family system as their client and treat the family as one entity, as opposed to treating individual family members, and our laws: a. Favor the rights of families as a whole over the rights of individual family members b. Support family counselors by also viewing the family system as one entity c. Create a "fiction" that a family is a person under the law d. View family members as having separate and distinct rights and responsibilities that are individual in nature e. Do not recognize that families exist in our society

d. View family members as having separate and distinct rights and responsibilities that are individual in nature.

Subpoenas are used: a. To obtain copies of records b. To cause potential witnesses to testify at a deposition, hearing, or trial c. To ask potential witnesses to respond in writing to written questions d. To require witnesses to appear at a deposition, hearing, or trial and to bring their records with them e. All of the above

e. All of the above

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 requests amendments to their records d. A written history of most disclosures of client information be available to clients e. All of the above

e. All of the above

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

e. All of the above

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

e. An emphasis on social justice and advocacy

When communicating with clients over the phone, counselors should: a. Inform the client that he or she must speak to the counselor face-to-face because phone communication of confidential issues is unethical b. Assume that the conversation cannot be interpreted due to encryption software on cell phones c. Acknowledge that the client is receiving services to unknown callers reporting that they know the client d. State information off the record and informally if the client and counselor have good rapport e. Attempt to verify the client's identity, and demonstrate caution and professionalism when discussing confidential information

e. Attempt to verify the client's identity, and demonstrate caution and professionalism when discussing confidential information

Counseling aims to help clients: a. Become autonomous and not need other people in their lives b. Have a place to go that is comforting and supportive c. Learn to counsel themselves d. Have a person who can solve their problems for them e. Be empowered to problem-solve independently

e. Be empowered to problem-solve independently

HIPAA rules state that if clients are first informed and given an opportunity to orally object (to which of the following): a. Psychotherapy notes created by the counselor may be transferred to insurance companies b. Insurance companies may pay counselors directly for the services they render to clients c. Their records may be transferred to another mental health professional d. Their records may be destroyed at the end of the counseling relationship e. Counselors may give health care information to family members or others assisting in the client's care

e. Counselors may give health care information to family members or others assisting in the client's care

When involuntary clients are required to sign documents waiving their privacy before beginning counseling sessions: a. Counselors should refuse to counsel these clients who have been forced into counseling b. The client in these situations is the agency forcing the client into counseling, not the client him- or herself c. Counselors then have no responsibility to maintain the client's privacy d. Counselors should warn clients that they should never say anything in counseling that may put them in a difficult situation with the person or agency that has mandated their counseling sessions e. Counselors should carefully explain to clients the limits of their privacy within the counseling relationship

e. Counselors should carefully explain to clients the limits of their privacy within the counseling relationship

In distance counseling, informed consent should include: a. The type of software used, guarantee of confidentiality and privacy, and consent to view client social media b. Consent to waive right to confidentiality and privacy, as it cannot be guaranteed in distance counseling c. Consent to waive counselor liability in the event of client crisis, as the counselor may be in a different time zone or otherwise inaccessible d. The same information as typical face-to-face informed consent e. Distance counseling credentials, cultural/languae differences, time zone differences, emergency procedures to follow if the counselor is not available, anticipated response time, and possible denial of insurance

e. Distance counseling credentials, cultural/languae differences, time zone differences, emergency procedures to follow if the counselor is not available, anticipated response time, and possible denial of insurance

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP): a. Sets standards for preparing counselors, social workers, and school psychologists b. Requires that an individual hold a doctoral degree in order to be CACREP-certified c. Encourages faculty who train counselors to have diverse backgrounds as counselors, counseling psychologists, and clinical social workers d. Requires that training programs offer a 100-clock-hour practicum and a 300-clock hour internship e. Has been generally accepted as the model curriculum for training counselors

e. Has been generally accepted as the model curriculum for training counselors

Because race, ethnicity, gender, and social class are salient cultural variables for all people, a. Individuals who are members of racial minority groups experience oppression related to all of their cultural variables b. Privilege is experienced only by White males c. Social class is the primary variable that determines whether individuals experience privilege or oppression d. Race is the primary variable that determines whether individuals experience privilege or oppression e. Individuals simultaneously experience both privilege and oppression

e. Individuals simultaneously experience both privilege and oppression

When making graduate program admissions decisions, counselor educators: a. Must use objective information such as grade point averages and test scores b. May balance their program by admitting certain numbers of individuals based on their gender, race, and religion c. Must have a minimum cut-off score if a standardized test, such as the GRE is used d. May deviate from their published procedures if fairness demands and that they do that e. May use their subjective judgment regarding a number of factors

e. May use their subjective judgment regarding a number of factors

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

e. Offering services that are identical to services offered by other similar professions

Counselors who hug their clients a. Would never get into trouble as long as the counselor can justify the hug as part of the therapeutic process b. Are doing what almost all counselors do at some point in their careers c. Will never be able to obtain professional liability insurance d. Expose themselves to serious claims of ethical violations because of the prohibition against touching clients in the professional literature e. Should be cautious and ensure the client is comfortable with the touching

e. Should be cautious and ensure the client is comfortable with the touching

It is ethically permissible for counselors to terminate a counseling relationship for all of the following reasons EXCEPT: a. The client does not pay the fees charged b. It is clear the client is no longer benefitting from counseling c. Agency limits do not allow services to continue d. Insurance benefits for mental health care have been exhausted e. The client experiences a crisis

e. The client experiences a crisis

Counselor competency can be assured if: a. A counselor is licensed by his or her state licensure board b. A counselor has graduated from a CACREP-accredited master's degree program c. A counselor is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) d. A Counselor has earned a master's degree in counseling from a regionally-accredited university e. There is no way to assure counselor competency

e. There is no way to assure counselor competency

If you believe your supervisor at your work setting is forcing you to act in what you consider to be an unethical manner, you should: a. Report your supervisor to the state licensing board b. Report your supervisor to the American Counseling Association Ethics Committee c. Resign your position immediately to avoid being held in violation of your professional code of ethics d. Hire an attorney who will attempt to force your employer to allow you to practice in an ethical manner e. Try to work with your supervisor to resolve the problem

e. Try to work with your supervisor to resolve the problem