Deck 3: Ethical Issues in Counselling Practice

Question 1

ethics focuses on doing what is in the best interest of clients.

A) Mandatory
B) Minimal
C) Positive
D) Aspirational

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Assessment consists of:

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 counselling process.
D) gaining an account into how the client's problems developed over time.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Informed consent in counselling can be provided in all of the following forms except:

A) written.
B) orally.
C) through third party.
D) some combination of written and oral form.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

involves the right of clients to be informed about their therapy and to make autonomous decisions relating to it.

A) Informed consent
B) Confidentiality
C) Privileged communication
D) Breach of confidentiality

Question 5

According to the text, the challenge of fulfilling the spirit of informed consent is to:

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 counsellors know what they are doing.
D) teach clients about state laws that relate to counselling.

Question 6

The ethics codes do not specify that dual or multiple relationships:

A) should be avoided or that nonsexual multiple relationships are unethical.
B) are clearly grounds for losing your right to practise.
C) are helpful if you are counselling your friends or relatives.
D) are impossible to avoid.

Question 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.

Question 8

The first step in making an ethical decision is to:

A) look at the relevant ethics codes.
B) identify the problem.
C) consider the applicable laws and regulations.
D) seek consultation.

Question 9

Mpho, a therapist in a community agency, recently divorced his wife and seems to be angry towards women in general. His colleagues, who have noticed a change in his attitude and behaviour lately, have encouraged him to seek personal counselling to work through his issues. They are:

A) overreacting to his anger and are overstepping the boundaries by suggesting he go to counselling.
B) unwise to suggest counselling 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 counselling for Mpho; as counsellors, they recognise that personal issues that have not been worked through are likely to be projected onto clients.
D) being unsupportive colleagues; since they are aware of his situation, they should offer to provide counselling to him and not refer him to a professional outside of the agency.

Question 10

Confidentiality must be breached and information must be reported by practitioners when all of the following take place, except:

A) clients pose a danger to others.
B) a child under the age of 16 requests counselling sessions.
C) an older adult is being abused.
D) the therapist determines that the client needs immediate, involuntary hospitalisation.

Question 11

During her sessions, Janelle questions whether she is trying to meet her clients' needs or her own needs. Janelle is:

A) being overly analytical.
B) actively working toward expanding her self-awareness and learning to recognise her areas of prejudice and vulnerability.
C) self-absorbed and insecure.
D) behaving unethically since she is preoccupied during her clients' sessions.

Question 12

According to the text, positive ethics is an approach taken by practitioners:

A) who do what is expected of them, according to their professional standards.
B) who want to do their best for clients rather than simply meet minimum standards to stay out of trouble.
C) who strive for the highest level of ethical practice.
D) who strictly adhere to lengthy ethics codes, even if this is not in the client's best interest.

Question 13

is a legal concept that protects clients from having their confidential communications revealed in court without their permission.

A) Informed consent
B) Privacy
C) Confidentiality
D) Privileged communication

Question 14

Evidence-based practices:

A) are the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences.
B) are tailored to only focus on the relationship between the client and therapist without addressing specific problems and symptoms.
C) tend to focus on therapist created techniques that do not have empirical evidence to support their efficacy.
D) are generally not time limited.

Question 15

Privileged communication applies to:

A) group counselling.
B) couples counselling.
C) family therapy.
D) individual counselling.

Question 16

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 counselling
C) the approximate length and details of the therapist's personal relationships
D) limits of confidentiality

Question 17

Which of the following statements is not true about guidelines for ethical practice in counselling and psychotherapy?

A) Most professional organisations 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 re-examined throughout your professional life.

Question 18

ethics involves a level of ethical functioning at the minimum level of professional practice.

A) Mandatory
B) Minimal
C) Positive
D) Aspirational

Question 19

In becoming an ethical practitioner, it is important 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 careful judgement when it comes to interpreting and applying ethical principles to specific situations.
D) avoid making any mistakes in counselling practice.

Question 20

Both the feminist perspective and the postmodern approaches suggest that diagnoses:

A) are an appropriate part of counselling sessions.
B) are generally helpful to women clients.
C) ignore societal contexts.
D) are an essential part of the medical model they follow.

Question 21

A diagnosis provides a working hypothesis that guides the practitioner in understanding the client.

Question 22

Ethics codes specify avoidance of all dual or multiple relationships.

Question 23

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

Question 24

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.

Question 25

Multiple relationship issues can be resolved with ethics codes alone.

Question 26

The central aim of evidence-based practice is to require psychotherapists to base their practice on
techniques that have empirical evidence to prove that they are effective.

Question 27

Human change is complex and difficult to measure beyond such a simplistic level that the change may be meaningless.

Question 28

Overemphasising cultural differences is always appropriate in a counselling context.

Question 29

It is optional for therapists to inform their clients that they may discuss certain details of the relationship with a supervisor or a colleague.

Question 30

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.).

Question 31

A boundary crossing could potentially benefit a client.

Question 32

Confidentiality can be considered an absolute.

Question 33

The only setting in which one might be forced to manage multiple roles is in community mental health centres.

Question 34

The term multiple relationship is more often used than the term dual relationship because of the complexities involved in these relationships.

Question 35

Becoming an ethical practitioner is not a final destination but a journey that will continue throughout your career.