Question 1

When documenting for self-protection

Accepted Answer

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. 
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

Question 2

The practice of providing counseling services over the Internet

Accepted Answer

A)  has been determined to be unethical by the American Counseling Association Ethics Committee. 
B)  is never 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. 
A)  has been determined to be unethical by the American Counseling Association Ethics Committee. 
B)  is never 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

Question 3

Generally, counselors create clinical case notes

Accepted Answer

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. 
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

Question 4

Subpoenas are used

Accepted Answer

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 trail and to bring their records with them. 
E)  all of the above. 
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 trail and to bring their records with them. 
E)  all of the above.

Question 5

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which is sometimes referred to as the "Buckley Amendment," affects all

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 6

Counselors who use social media profile sites for professional purposes should NOT

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 7

Internet sites that contain career information that might be helpful to clients

Accepted Answer

A)  can be counted on for quality because all are approved by the federal government before they are allowed to be created. 
B)  contain better, up-to-date information than printed sources. 
C)  should be avoided because they usually contain inaccurate information. 
D)  are not monitored for content or quality. 
E)  have little practical use for clients because they are so technical in the way they present career information. 
A)  can be counted on for quality because all are approved by the federal government before they are allowed to be created. 
B)  contain better, up-to-date information than printed sources. 
C)  should be avoided because they usually contain inaccurate information. 
D)  are not monitored for content or quality. 
E)  have little practical use for clients because they are so technical in the way they present career information.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is most appropriate regarding clinical case notes?

Accepted Answer

A)  counselors should not take clinical case notes if they are worried about the notes being subpoenaed or later being 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. 
E)  if clinical case notes are kept at the home of the counselor, they cannot be subpoenaed. 
A)  counselors should not take clinical case notes if they are worried about the notes being subpoenaed or later being 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. 
E)  if clinical case notes are kept at the home of the counselor, they cannot be subpoenaed.

Question 9

Legal principles view the contents of a client's counseling records as belonging to

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 10

When a counselor communicates with a client using e-mail

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 11

When counselor trainees make audiotapes or videotapes of counseling sessions for supervision purposes

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 12

HIPAA rules state that if clients are first informed and given an opportunity to orally object

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 13

When a counselor uses a networked or shared computer for the storage of confidential information on clients, the counselor should

Accepted Answer

A)  never let anyone else know or be able to access the password. 
B)  Store confidential records on a portable storage device rather than on the computer's hard drive. 
C)  only use computers that are kept behind locked doors. 
D)  have a manual lock placed on the computer that requires a key. 
E)  never print out confidential information because it might be read by others. 
A)  never let anyone else know or be able to access the password. 
B)  Store confidential records on a portable storage device rather than on the computer's hard drive. 
C)  only use computers that are kept behind locked doors. 
D)  have a manual lock placed on the computer that requires a key. 
E)  never print out confidential information because it might be read by others.

Question 14

If a subpoena for the counseling records of a client is received, a counselor who works in a mental health agency should

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 15

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

When documenting for self-protection

The practice of providing counseling services over the Internet

Generally, counselors create clinical case notes

Subpoenas are used

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which is sometimes referred to as the "Buckley Amendment," affects all

Counselors who use social media profile sites for professional purposes should NOT

Internet sites that contain career information that might be helpful to clients

Which of the following statements is most appropriate regarding clinical case notes?

Legal principles view the contents of a client's counseling records as belonging to

When a counselor communicates with a client using e-mail

When counselor trainees make audiotapes or videotapes of counseling sessions for supervision purposes

HIPAA rules state that if clients are first informed and given an opportunity to orally object

When a counselor uses a networked or shared computer for the storage of confidential information on clients, the counselor should

If a subpoena for the counseling records of a client is received, a counselor who works in a mental health agency should

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that

Introduction

Professional Identity of Counselors

Ethical Practice, Multicultural Competence, and Social Justice

Client Rights and Counselor Responsibilities

Confidentiality and Privileged Communication

Competence and Malpractice

Boundary Issues

Counseling Children and Vulnerable Adults

Counseling Families and Groups

Evaluation, Testing, and Diagnosis

Professional Relationships, Private Practice, and Healthcare Plans

Issues in Counselor Education

Supervision and Consultation

Research and Publications

Resolving Legal and Ethical Issues

Filters

Exam 6: Records, Subpoenas, and Technology

When documenting for self-protection

The practice of providing counseling services over the Internet

Generally, counselors create clinical case notes

Subpoenas are used

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which is sometimes referred to as the "Buckley Amendment," affects all

Counselors who use social media profile sites for professional purposes should NOT

Internet sites that contain career information that might be helpful to clients

Which of the following statements is most appropriate regarding clinical case notes?

Legal principles view the contents of a client's counseling records as belonging to

When a counselor communicates with a client using e-mail

When counselor trainees make audiotapes or videotapes of counseling sessions for supervision purposes

HIPAA rules state that if clients are first informed and given an opportunity to orally object

When a counselor uses a networked or shared computer for the storage of confidential information on clients, the counselor should

If a subpoena for the counseling records of a client is received, a counselor who works in a mental health agency should

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that

Introduction

Professional Identity of Counselors

Ethical Practice, Multicultural Competence, and Social Justice

Client Rights and Counselor Responsibilities

Confidentiality and Privileged Communication

Competence and Malpractice

Boundary Issues

Counseling Children and Vulnerable Adults

Counseling Families and Groups

Evaluation, Testing, and Diagnosis

Professional Relationships, Private Practice, and Healthcare Plans

Issues in Counselor Education

Supervision and Consultation

Research and Publications

Resolving Legal and Ethical Issues

Filters