Law & Ethics

Front 1

When an MFT trainee or intern reasonably believesa client is homicidal toward a particular person, the trainee or intern is obligated to:

Back 1

take the action the therapist deems appropriate to reduce the likelihood the violence will occur

Front 2

The obligation established by Tarasoff is:

Back 2

Duty to Protect

Front 3

Your client, who has a history of physical violence,has not made a specific threat but you believe she poses a danger to her neighbor with whom she has been feuding. Under Tarasoff:

Back 3

you have a duty to protect, which may include warning

Front 4

A client's father tells you that the client hates her boss. She has a permit to carry a firearm and the father is afraid she will becomeso angry shewill shoot her boss.
The therapist is required to:

Back 4

protect, if the therapist determines the woman poses a danger even though no threat was made

Front 5

A client tells the therapist he is planning to shoot his ex-lover. The therapist knows the client owns a gun and has a documented history of violent behavior. The therapist believes it is likely the client will carry out his threat. The therapist should:

Back 5

warn the ex-lover and inform the police

Front 6

Ewing I and Ewing II changed the therapist's duty to protect:

Back 6

by adding that communications by a client's family members about a
patient's threat to victim are the same as if they came from the client directly

Front 7

When a client has suicidal ideation but is not in imminent danger of attempting suicide, a trainee or intern:

Back 7

should evaluate the danger and take appropriate therapeutic actions to try and ensure the patient's safety

Front 8

Your client describes feelings and thoughts of wanting to die and you believe the risk for suicide is immediate. The best legal and ethical response is:

Back 8

contact police for 5150 involuntary hold

Front 9

Your client describes feelings and thoughts of wanting to die but you do not believe the risk of suicide is immediate, The best legal and ethical course of action:

Back 9

discuss options for reducing the risk, including hospitalization, with the must client and continue to monitor the risk closely

Front 10

The "holder of the privilege" is usually:

Back 10

the client

Front 11

Section 5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code:

Back 11

allows police or designated mental heath personnel to involuntarily hospitalize people who pose an immediate danger to self or others due to mental disorder

Front 12

An LMFT has recently been divorced. She linds herself angry with most men, including her male patients. The therapist:

Back 12

has the ethical obligation to be aware of how her own situation may be impacting her clients and seek consultation if necessary

Front 13

Your new client tells you he was previously in treatment with another therapist who made sexual advances toward him. The client ended the therapy because of these advances. The client does not want this information disclosed but stated he has come to therapy now in order to address the emotional damage caused by the previous therapist's actions. Ethically you:

Back 13

should give the client a brochure: "Therapy Never Includes Sex"

Front 14

A client who has been suffering from depression tells you she has been feeling more suicidal ideation lately. She also discloses that she has not been taking her antidepressant medication, prescribed by her psychiatrist, because it seems to make her tired. Ethically, in this situation:

Back 14

you may contact her psychiatrist without her written permission

Front 15

Which of the following is true regarding group therapy in most situations:

Back 15

members are not legally obliged to maintain confidentiality but should be told of the importance of doing so

Front 16

A client's insurance company calls the therapist and asks for some information about a client's diagnosis and treatment. The information they request is not required for you to be paid. The therapist should:

Back 16

release the information if the client provides written consent

Front 17

A client informs an intern she is HIV-positive. She also mentions she has not told her sexual partner, with whom she has unprotected sex, about her HIV status. The intern:

Back 17

is not ethically required to take action in this case

Front 18

Referral fees are:

Back 18

acceptable if made to a referral service registered with the BBS

Front 19

Your client has been ordered into therapy as a condition of probation. He terminates the therapy. The therapist:

Back 19

needs more information to know what his/her legal & ethical options and responsibilities are under order of the court.

Front 20

A therapist realizes he is attracted to a client the first time she comes in for therapy. Wanting to do the ethical thing, he refers her to another therapist. After a few months, the first therapist calls the woman and asks her for a date. The therapist:

Back 20

acted unethically

Front 21

A convicted child molester has been court-ordered to participate in therapy and contacts you for an appointment. You have strong, negative feelings about child sexual abusers. The most ethical course of action would be:

Back 21

refer him to another therapist qualified to treat sex offenders

Front 22

According to CAMFT a therapist's best protection when defending against an allegation of unprofessional conduct is:

Back 22

documentation

Front 23

It a client aged 18 is a victim of rape, the therapist should:

Back 23

discuss the client's options with him or her

Front 24

A client tells a trainee the client's son has a l7-year-old girlfriend who has been staying at the client's home, due to physical abuse by her mother's boyfriend. She arrived at the client's home with a bloody nose and a black eye. The trainee:

Back 24

must make a report of suspected child abuse

Front 25

A client tells a trainee she disciplines her children by hitting them on the buttocks, arms and legs with a belt- The trainee:

Back 25

Needs more information to determine whether a report of suspected child abuse should be made

Front 26

True or False

Neglect of a child must be reported as suspected child abuse

Back 26

TRUE

Front 27

Your 15 -year-old client reports consensual sex with his 22-year-old girlfriend. This activity:

Back 27

must be reported as suspected child abuse

Front 28

Your 13 year-old client has told you of having consensual intercourse with his 13 year-old girlfriend. When he turns 14, their sexual activity:

Back 28

must be reported as suspected child abuse

Front 29

Your client tells you her 8 year-old niece is being physically abused and neglected by her parents and your client is worried for her safety. The niece lives with her parents in New York. Your legal and ethical obligations:

Back 29

requires you to report the suspected child abuse to appropriate authorities in the county in which you work

Front 30

Childhood abuse of an adult client:

Back 30

be reported if the perpetrator currently has daily easy access other children

Front 31

If two children under 12 have engaged in what appears to be consensual sexual activity, the most important dynamic the therapist should consider in determining whether or not to make a suspected child abuse report is:

Back 31

power imbalance

Front 32

A therapist must make a telephone report of suspected child abuse:

Back 32

immediately or ASAP

Front 33

A therapist must make a written report of suspected child abuse:

Back 33

within 36 hours

Front 34

If a therapist tries to make a telephone report of suspected child abuse as mandated and is not able to reach anyone who will accept the report, the therapist:

Back 34

should send a written report indicating the reason(s) the phone report was not made

Front 35

A therapist is required to make a phone report of suspected elder/dependent adult abuse:

Back 35

immediately

Front 36

A therapist is required to make a written report of suspected elder/dependent adult abuse:

Back 36

within 2 working days

Front 37

The definition of a dependent adult in California is:

Back 37

aged 18-64 with physical and/or mental limitations severe enough the person cannot perform normal activities or protect their rights, and/or who has been admitted into 24-hour health facility

Front 38

You are a trainee and have been seeing a couple for six months. The husband calls and asks if he can begin individual therapy with you right away. The best legal and ethical response is:

Back 38

refer him to another therapist

Front 39

LMFT's do not disclose clients' confidential information except :

Back 39

with written authorization and as required/allowed by law

Front 40

Which of the following is not true about a client's written authorization to release confidential information:

Back 40

It may not be withdrawn without a written statement, citing the reason for the withdrawal.

Front 41

When providing couple,family or group treatment, the therapist may disclose information:

Back 41

with a prior written authorization from each person involved in the treatment

Front 42

You must decide whether you may administer a psychological test to a current patient in order to gain information to help her resolve relationship conflicts. The primary issue which might keep you from doing so is:

Back 42

Scope of Competence

Front 43

A former client contacts you and asks if you will administer a psychological test for her which she is required to take as part of the application process to be a police officer. The primary issue which might keep you from doing so is:

Back 43

Scope of Practice

Front 44

A client diagnosedwith PTSD has askedyou to try EMDR with her. The issue which could prevent you from doing so is:

Back 44

Scope of Competence

Front 45

You have been seeing two clients for about the same period of time, a little over a year. You learn both belong to the same gym. You:

Back 45

may continue to see both as long as you have appropriately addressed possible conflicts of interest

Front 46

A 10-year-old child posesa threat of danger to other children. A therapist:

Back 46

must have permission from parents to see the child

Front 47

An 8-year-old girl is brought to therapy by her father, who is divorced from her mother. The therapist:

Back 47

should ask to see the court order regarding custody to make sure permission is not required from both parents

Front 48

A 14 year old boy comes to a community clinic for therapy because he has been a victim of physical and sexual abuse. His parents will not give consent for treatment. The boy asks to be seen by a particular trainee. The most appropriate legal and ethical responseis:

Back 48

the trainee is not allowed to see the client because trainees may not see minors who are consenting to their own treatment

Front 49

The youngest age at which a minor may consent to their own treatment is:

Back 49

12 years

Front 50

A minor holds privilege:

Back 50

when there is no guardian ad litem

Front 51

Privilege for a minor may always be waived by:

Back 51

the minor's attorney

Front 52

You are legally treating a minor without parental consent. The parents have asked, to see the minor's clinical records. The therapist:

Back 52

may deny access to the records because the minor is legally being seen without parental consent

Front 53

A child's grandparent brings the minor in for therapy. The therapist:

Back 53

may see the child if the grandparent qualifies as a caregiver per Family Code 6550

Front 54

A stepparent may:

Back 54

consent to minor's treatment if s/he has adopted the child

Front 55

A parent does not have access to the minor's record if the minor:

Back 55

legally consented to their own treatment

Front 56

CAMFT recommends therapists keep the records of an adult client:

Back 56

10 years after termination

Front 57

Patients or their representatives have a right to inspect and/or copy their records. Upon receiving a written request from a patient, the therapist must make the records available for inspection:

Back 57

within 5 working days

Front 58

Therapists must avoid all dual relationships which might:

Back 58

impair the therapist's judgment
dual relationships or exploit the client

Front 59

An LMFT is employed at a mental health clinic. Another employee approaches the therapist and asks for counseling for her and her partner. The employee cannot afford therapy and asks if she can do some clerical work for the therapist in exchange for therapy. The therapist:

Back 59

Should refer the employee to another therapist because this
sets up a dual relationship.

Front 60

A therapist meets the ex-spouse of a former client at a class. Therapy with the former client has been over for 3 years. The therapist and the ex-spouse develop a relationship over time which includes sex. The therapist:

Back 60

acted legally but in a manner that is not recommended ethically

Front 61

You are terminating therapy with your client. This is an important clinical issue. The best legal and ethical course of action includes:

Back 61

• consultation and documentation

• sufficient time for the processing of client's emotional reaction

• referral to another therapist if appropriate

Front 62

Appropriate reasons for termination include:

Back 62

failure of client to pay fees over an extended period of time

Front 63

Telemedicine (defined here as therapy over Internet) requires its own informed consent form. This form:

Back 63

must be received in writing prior to the beginning of therapy

Front 64

Your agency involves trainees in billing for therapy. Your individual supervisor tells you she regularly Egygl rg3sylqg4ts for low-income clients with insurance. The supervisor says this is permissible because the agency often bills clients on a sliding scale basis. This action:

Back 64

is unethical and illegal since it may be considered insurance fraud

Front 65

Aclient tells her therapist she has been threatened by an employee who is on parole. The parolee's criminal record includes a conviction for attempted murder'
The therapist:

Back 65

has no duty to report the threat