Deck 3: Ethical and Legal Issues in Group Counseling

Question 1

ACA guidelines state that "counselors are aware of-and avoid imposing-their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that are _____________ the client's goals."

A) damaging to
B) inconsistent with
C) misleading of
D) antagonistic to

Answer 1

B

Question 2

__________ is a process of presenting basic information about a group to potential group participants to assist them in deciding whether to enter the group and how to participate in it.

A) Moral ethics
B) Ethical decision making
C) Informed consent
D) Professional ethics

Answer 2

C

Question 3

One controversial ethical issue in the preparation of group leaders involves:

A) studies showing that mandated counselees are typically less motivated.
B) combining experiential and didactic methods in training.
C) studies showing that mandated counselees are typically as motivated as voluntary clients as treatment progresses.
D) counselee distrust that should immediately be challenged.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Donna, a rehabilitation counseling participant, suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) four months ago. Feeling "much better," she is intent on going on a river rafting trip this weekend. The group leader is obligated to:

A) Stop her from doing so at all costs; an additional head injury would be devastating
B) Inform her family of the dangers since Donna will not listen to reason
C) Caution Donna regarding dangers and consequences
D) Allow Donna to make her own decisions; she is, after all, in the group voluntarily

Question 5

Wheeler and Bertram (2015) see which of the following presenting a danger to group counseling confidentiality:

A) Facebook
B) Emails
C) Phone calls
D) Skype

Question 6

Due to oppression and discrimination that many diverse members of counseling groups have faced, it is recommended that the group be a place where the subject of ___________________ can be openly explored.

A) civil rights
B) hatred
C) revenge
D) imbalance of power

Question 7

Sarah is a group member who doesn't speak up or ask for time to speak in the group. Understanding her culture believes this is rude, insensitive, and self-oriented, as a therapist which is the best way to help her become more comfortable and willing to share?

A) Rather than encouraging self-disclosure, create an event where all other members try to force her to share with the group.
B) Rely on her to initiate self-disclosure on her own without the assistance or encouragement of anyone else.
C) Tell her to speak up and encourage her to self-disclose anything.
D) Rather than expecting her to initiate any self-disclosure, it might be helpful to ask her to consider sharing at least one reaction she experienced while listening to another member speak.

Question 8

A counselor meets with a client who is wearing the traditional garb associated with a particular religious group. The counselor holds a negative view of this group's beliefs in certain matters. The counselor must, as a first step:

A) Make the counselee aware of the biases that exist
B) Dismiss himself or herself as a potential counselor for the client
C) Become aware of and explore the potential reasons for the bias
D) Set his or her biases aside

Question 9

Leaders have a responsibility to discuss any breaches with the group and to take action if a member:

A) upholds confidentiality.
B) questions confidentiality.
C) breaks confidentiality.
D) understands confidentiality.

Question 10

Some group members are likely to adhere to a different set of universal values including all of the following EXCEPT :

A) dependence
B) cooperation
C) loyalty to family
D) duty and obligation to parents

Question 11

Limitations to confidentiality should be outlined:

A) only to the group members the leader believes might breach confidentiality.
B) only when terminating a group.
C) during a cathartic event.
D) in the informed consent process.

Question 12

Your new counselee is a recent immigrant from a new country. You are not familiar with many aspects of her culture. Which of the following is not a legitimate concern pertaining to confidentiality?

A) Some cultures stress sharing of all personal matters; the client may share confidential details of counseling.
B) Due to language barriers, the client may not understand the confidentiality information in its entirety.
C) Some cultures view therapy as shameful. Do not leave any information regarding therapy or you as a therapist on phone messages.
D) Some cultures do not take confidentiality as seriously as others.

Question 13

Attending to __________ is basic to competent group practice.

A) diversity
B) white members only
C) heterosexual individuals
D) middle-class members only

Question 14

Which of the following is recommended in order to dissuade group members from divulging confidential information?

A) A verbal contract
B) A verbal promise
C) A written contract
D) A stern warning

Question 15

Experts warn of the potentially "______________" effect of the power and prestige which group leaders hold.

A) exhausting
B) discomfiting
C) intoxicating
D) frustrating

Question 16

Most __________ affirm that practitioners should be aware of the prevailing community standards and of the possible impact on their practice of deviation from these standards.

A) counselor/counselee relationships
B) therapeutic organizations
C) co-leader relationships
D) professional organizations

Question 17

For proficient group leaders to emerge, a __________ must make group work a priority.

A) court-ordered counseling program
B) training program
C) group technique
D) sex-offender counseling program

Question 18

Group work often provides the potential to further a _________ agenda:

A) presidential
B) social justice
C) intercontinental
D) international

Question 19

A comprehensive and widely cited listing of characteristics, behaviors and attributes of effective group counselors pertaining to sexually diverse clients has been published by:

A) The Gay and Lesbian Counseling Alliance of North America (GLCANA)
B) The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC)
C) Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
D) The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Action Group for Equality and Fairness in Therapy (GLBTAGEFT)

Question 20

Chung and Bemak (2012) present their view that "one cornerstone of doing multicultural social justice work" is:

A) Morality
B) Forgiveness
C) Courage
D) Role-play

Question 21

When you find yourself struggling with an ethical dilemma over a values conflict, the best course to follow is to:

A) seek consultation in working through the situation so the appropriate standard of care is provided.
B) seek friendship in order to discuss every detail not worrying about confidentiality.
C) contact an attorney to be sure you will not be sued.
D) not do anything at all.

Question 22

If you are having difficulty maintaining objectivity regarding a certain value, consider this:

A) your client's problem rather than yours.
B) your problem rather than the client's problem.
C) your attorney's problem rather than yours.
D) the client's family's problem.

Question 23

As counselors we are held to a set of professional standards not only within our professional role but also outside of our role as helpers. Whether fair or not:

A) Counselors are never looked upon as role models and what they do in their private time does not have any impact on their professional life.
B) Counselors are often looked upon as role models and how we behave in private can have a direct impact on how we are perceived by others.
C) Counselors do not have to worry about what they do in private because they have a right to live exactly how they want.
D) Counselors are often looked upon as role models; however, they are allowed to have a private life that they do not have to answer for within their professional life.

Question 24

__________ time needs to be allotted to closing each group session.

A) Minimal
B) Adequate
C) Very little
D) An enormous amount of

Question 25

__________ are often conveyed in a subtle way, even without conscious awareness.

A) Techniques
B) Values
C) Cathartic events
D) Angry outbursts

Question 26

Our clients, not us, live with __________ of the changes they make in a group.

A) the consequences
B) the significances
C) the values
D) the moments

Question 27

__________ affects the issues that members bring to a group and the ways in which they might be either ready or reluctant to explore these issues.

A) Unfinished business
B) Attentive listening
C) Cultural similarities
D) Cultural diversity

Question 28

With a commitment to discuss the factors related to leaving a group, there is an opportunity for everyone concerned to express and explore:

A) unfinished business.
B) finished business.
C) resolved feelings.
D) resolved problems.

Question 29

Exploration of cultural differences does not always end in resolution of those differences. However, if these subtle and more obvious cultural factors go unnoticed or are ignored by leaders, it can __________ the participation of those members.

A) increase
B) positively influence
C) have no influence on
D) negatively influence

Question 30

The guidelines for __________ in group practice have been drawn from a variety of professional associations, including the ACA, the ASGW, and the AMCD.

A) competence in diversity issues
B) catharsis
C) attentive listening
D) unfinished business

Question 31

Included under sexual minority status are people who are all of the following EXCEPT :

A) lesbian
B) questioning
C) heterosexual
D) transgender

Question 32

Group leaders must intervene if other members use __________ to force any member to remain in the group.

A) appropriate communication
B) healthy self-disclosure
C) undue pressure
D) production discussion

Question 33

While group members are sharing extremely personal information, leaders can remind members about __________ as a way of reassuring the member who is disclosing.

A) storytelling
B) breaches in confidentiality
C) self-disclosing
D) confidentiality

Question 34

Techniques can be abused or used in unethical ways. Which of the following is NOT a way leaders might employ techniques unethically?

A) Using techniques to decrease their power.
B) Using techniques with which they are unfamiliar.
C) Using techniques to alter a group member's personal values or beliefs.
D) Using techniques whose sole purpose is to create intensity between members or within the group.

Question 35

Group leaders are responsible for __________ about the importance and advantages of keeping information pertaining to the group private.

A) educating group members' friends
B) educating group members
C) educating family members
D) educating children of group members

Question 36

Group leaders should strive to help __________ understand their choices and the consequences of lack of compliance with the treatment program.

A) voluntary members
B) group members
C) adolescent members
D) involuntary members

Question 37

__________ is "the fair and equitable distribution of power, resources, and obligations in society to all people, regardless of race, gender, ability status, sexual orientation, and
Religious or spiritual background".

A) Therapy
B) Group counseling
C) Mental health
D) Social justice

Question 38

Showing involuntary members how they could personally benefit from a group can increase:

A) voluntary participation.
B) involuntary participation.
C) group membership.
D) successful group completion.

Question 39

Professional competence, just like professional growth, is __________ for the duration of your career.

A) a once and for all learning process
B) an ongoing developmental process
C) a short-term developmental process
D) a quick learning process

Question 40

__________ is one of the major ethical issues in group work.

A) Mental health insurance
B) Competence
C) Health education
D) Catharsis

Question 41

Culture may affect a member's views on confidentiality in all of the following ways EXCEPT :

A) Some cultures consider therapy to be shameful and only for mentally ill people.
B) Some group members may not have legal status or residency and may be guarded about providing personal information.
C) Some cultures promote sharing of all personal information with their families, but members do not have to worry about feeling pressured to share details.
D) Members who are seeking asylum or have refugee status may have significant trust issues and may give false personal information to protect themselves and their families.

Question 42

The reputation of group work has suffered from all of the following EXCEPT :

A) those who use techniques appropriately.
B) the actions of irresponsible practitioners.
C) those who use techniques randomly without a clear rationale.
D) those who use techniques without any sense of the potential outcome.

Question 43

Leaders who work with groups of children, adolescents, and certain involuntary populations are especially advised to learn the laws restricting group work. Which of the following area
Is NOT one they should know?

A) Confidentiality
B) Parental consent
C) Protection of member welfare
D) Heterosexual civil rights

Question 44

Group leaders need to be aware of both the overt and subtle ways in which they utilize their:

A) attentive listening skills.
B) ethics.
C) leadership roles.
D) power.

Question 45

The process of intentionally setting aside our personal values to provide ethical and appropriate counseling describes:

A) ethical bracketing
B) ethical values
C) value disposition
D) confidentiality

Question 46

A recent California statute allows minors who are _________ to receive counseling if the practitioner determines that the minor is mature enough to participate intelligently in
Outpatient treatment or mental health counseling.

A) 18 years or older
B) 16 years or older
C) 12 years or older
D) 10 years or older

Question 47

Group practitioners who work with LGBTQ clients have a responsibility to understand the unique concerns these clients may bring to the group and are expected to develop:

A) a hard skin in order to not have problems with the clients.
B) the knowledge and skills to competently deliver services to them.
C) a full proof plan for a group with these members.
D) the understanding on how to refer these clients to other practitioners.

Question 48

One way for members to share their experience with others outside the group without breaking confidentiality or informed consent is:

A) to give a detailed description of each group member including their names.
B) for them to talk about their own experience, reactions, and insights without describing other members or mentioning others in the group by name.
C) for them to share everything they can remember about each meeting.
D) to share information and answer questions with the utmost detail about all members and leaders.

Question 49

Group norms include all of the following EXCEPT :

A) staying in the there-and-then
B) expressing feelings
C) asking for what one wants
D) being direct and honest

Question 50

Most __________ affirm that practitioners should be aware of the prevailing community standards and of the possible impact on their practice of deviation from these standards.

A) disclosures
B) informed consent
C) professional organizations
D) confidentiality