Q&A Hero

Q: With respect to a client's right to choose the time and means of his or her death, the ACA Code of Ethicsa. 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 of counseling the client regarding this issue or referring the client to another helping professional.d. requires counselors to warn a physician or family member that the client is considering taking his or her own life.e. acknowledges that counselors are not properly trained to assist clients with a medical issue such as end-of-life decision making.

Q: Informed consent documents that clients sign before counseling sessions begin a. are not required under the federal HIPAA rules. b. are required by law in every state. c. are mandated by the ACA Code of Ethics. d. are a good way to inform clients of their rights and responsibilities and are required by some federal rules and state laws. e. serve no useful purpose if counselors have put considerable effort into carefully explaining the information to their clients orally and have assured themselves that their clients understand.

Q: 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 himself 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 sessions 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.

Q: Regarding counselors' personal values, counselors a. must always avoid disclosing their own personal values to their clients. b. should avoid discussions of values 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.

Q: 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 belief 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 .

Q: When clients seek counseling related to issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, interracial marriage, premarital sex, or sexual identity, counselors a. must accept such clients for counseling services even if these issues distress counselors on a personal level. b. must be able to rise above any personal feelings they have about such issues and have an obligation to assist all clients who come to them for services. c. must examine their own values regarding these issues to ensure they can provide counseling services without allowing their own beliefs to interfere. d. should immediately refer such clients to other counselors who specialize in counseling persons with those particular concerns. e. should accept such clients for counseling only if the counselor has experienced such issues in his or her personal life and has successfully resolved them.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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 their clients and not benefit inappropriately from the counselor-client relationship. c. ensure that clients do what is best for themselves. d. act as the client's guardian if the client cannot care for himself or herself. e. make arrangements for clients to be taken care of by family members or close friends if their clients can no longer care for themselves.

Q: Because clients may have emergencies between counseling sessions, it is usually wise for counselors to a. instruct clients to call a 24-hour mental health hotline number or report to a hospital emergency room. b. give clients their home phone number. c. supply clients with a pager number by which the counselor may be reached. d. avoid accepting clients for counseling who may have between session emergencies. e. explain to clients that any situation they are dealing with can be resolved at the next regularly scheduled counseling session.

Q: 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

Q: Cultural competencies in working with LGBTQIQ 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 LGBTQIQ sexuality and how it is expressed d. understanding the dichotomous nature of sexuality e. understanding that LGBTQIQ individuals no longer experience a significant degree of societal stigmatization

Q: As advocates, counselors are aware that a. clients' mental health is affected by their experiences of discrimination and marginalization b. race transcends other cultural dimensions such as class and gender c. a working-class bias is prevalent in counselor training d. because most master's level counselors are female, they are able to counsel other females more effectively than are male counselors e. gay and lesbian clients are less likely to seek counseling than are heterosexual clients

Q: 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

Q: To be effective when counseling clients with physical disabilities, counselors should a. focus on the clients' adjustment to disability. b. take a more directive, behavioral approach in working with the clients. c. refer these clients to a rehabilitation counselor. d. focus on the clients' abilities rather than limitations. e. assume that the clients' presenting problems are related to their disability.

Q: Because most counselors come from a middle class background, they a. tend to be aware of their class biases. b. realize that some clients do not speak English well because of limited education or immigrant status. c. find it difficult to hear class conditioning when listening to some clients' stories. d. should emphasize the importance of education when counseling clients from low socio-economic backgrounds. e. should focus on personal relationships and rapport building when counseling low SES clients.

Q: 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.

Q: If a Southeast Asian client refuses to seek police assistance when he or she has been the victim of a crime, the counselor should a. become an advocate and contact the police for the client. b. insist that the client seek police assistance despite his or her reluctance. c. explain to the client that police help people in the United States. d. understand that the client may have negative feelings toward police because of police oppression in his or her native country. e. contact a family member and tell the family member that it is very important that the police are notified of the crime so that others can be protected.

Q: 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 seekj legal advice from an attorney who advocates for gay rights

Q: 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.

Q: Counselors who work with female clients should have an understanding of the high-prevalence problems and issues experienced by women, including each of the following EXCEPT a. domestic violence. b. tendency to be passive-aggressive. c. sexual assault and harassment. d. body image and objectification. e. conflicts between work and family responsibilities.

Q: 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.

Q: According to McIntosh, examples of White privilege include all of the following EXCEPT a. being able to watch television and see people of the White race widely represented. b. seeing on television White people positively represented. c. knowing that if legal or medical help is needed, race will not work against the White person. d. growing up in a White middle or upper class family environment. e. not needing to teach White children about systemic racism for their own daily protection.

Q: 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.

Q: 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 ethnic clients out of a need to be accepted e. misinterpreting a client's culturally learned patterns of communicating or behaving.

Q: 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 counselor 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.

Q: 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 illnesses 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

Q: 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

Q: A fundamental tenet of the wellness model is that a. traditionally, it has been espoused y 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

Q: 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 ethical to list all relevant credentials on their business cards.

Q: Professionalism in counseling includes all of the following EXCEPT a. being intrinsically motivated to achieve 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.

Q: 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 at least a master's degree.

Q: 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 societally recognized profession. d. conducting more experimental designed research studies. e. convincing legislators to make counseling services available to everyone for a reasonable charge.

Q: 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.

Q: 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 national legislation that ensured education for all handicapped persons.

Q: Within the 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 of Certified Counselors.

Q: 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.

Q: 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 stages 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 experienced.

Q: 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 illnesses. d. understand the illnesses with which clients present for counseling. e. help clients understand unresolved emotional issues.

Q: A core belief that members of the counseling profession hold concerning helping others with their mental health concerns is a. it 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 personal 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.

Q: 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.

Q: When a counselor discovers that a client holds values that are dramatically different from the counselor's own values, the counselor should a. try to gently persuade the client to re-examine his or her values. b. respect the client's values even though the counselor disagrees with them. c. immediately refer the client to another counselor. d. give the client some reading material that will broaden his or her perspective. e. ask the client how he or she would feel if people discriminated against him or her because of values held.

Q: The ACA Code of Ethics a. helps to stabilize the profession b. answers nearly all questions that a counselor might have c. sets forth ethical responsibilities that never change d. is the single, universally accepted code of ethics for counselors e. is updated every two or three years

Q: External forces that can support counselors in their efforts to practice ethically include all of the following EXCEPT a. supervision. b. intentionality. c. consultation. d. ethics codes. e. continuing education workshops and seminars.

Q: Laws a. always support professional values and behaviors. b. dictate maximum standards of behavior for professionals in a position of trust who provide services to the public. c. are similar to ethics in that they represent ideal standards. d. often conflict with an ethical standard related to a similar issue. e. are agreed upon rules that are set forth by principles allowing people to live together in a society.

Q: All of the following are situations in which it is necessary to consult with colleagues EXCEPT a. when counselors face issues that require them to exercise judgment. b. when there are no clear right or wrong answers. c. when deciding whether to respond to a subpoena. d. when it is possible that clinical decisions will be challenged later. e. when they are not certain whether a client might be suicidal.

Q: Once counselors have disclosed their legal questions to their immediate supervisors and have received a response either from the supervisor or from an attorney who is advising them as to the proper course of action, a. it is essential for counselors to seek a second opinion. b. it is essential for counselors to choose and act on their own choice. c. it is essential for counselors to follow legal advice given to them, even if they do not agree with it. d. it is essential for counselors to follow legal advice given to them, but only if they agree with it. e. it is essential for counselors to ask the ACA Ethics Committee for an opinion.

Q: 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 the client in the decision making process. c. consider the moral principles. d. consult with an attorney. e. identify desired outcomes.

Q: 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 codes 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

Q: 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.

Q: Virtue ethicists believe that a. to determine whether a counselor is ethical, each decision the counselor makes must be carefully weighed b. people exist in connection to and in relationship with one another c. actions speak louder than words d. there are no universal moral principles e. counselors should always be truthful

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

Q: 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 anonymity. e. sacrificing beneficence in order to promote fidelity.

Q: 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 e. should prevail over ethics when there is a conflict between the counselor's values and the client's behavior

Q: 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.

Q: 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. laws require that counselors always follow the profession's ethical standards. e. ethics and laws are often in conflict because they are so different from one another.

Q: In what circumstances do you think you would report another counselor for unethical behavior?

Q: Do you think it is wise to avoid telling anyone if you receive notification of a complaint against you? Why or why not?

Q: How do you think you would react if you were a licensed counselor and received a registered letter from your licensure board informing you that you had been accused of professional incompetence by a former client?

Q: Why do you think the U.S. Government has required universities and other organizations that conduct research to establish Institutional Review Boards that review research proposals to ensure that human subjects are protected from harm?

Q: What issues do you think should be addressed in ethical standards for counselors who conduct research?

Q: What is plagiarism and why do you think so many college students get into trouble because they plagiarize?

Q: As a beginning counselor, in what circumstances do you think you might seek consultation? In what circumstances do you think others might come to you for consultation?

Q: What would you do if you believed your clinical supervisor was not competent to provide you with quality supervision services?

Q: How are counseling, supervision, and consultation similar? How are they different from each other?

Q: What kinds of relationships outside the classroom between counselor education professors and students are appropriate?

Q: Should graduate students in counseling be required to self-disclose personal information in a group course facilitated by a faculty member? Why or why not?

Q: From an ethical perspective, what should the faculty members in graduate counseling programs tell prospective students about the program?

Q: What kind of help does a counselor need in order to set up a private practice?

Q: What types of interactions and relationships do counselors have to other mental health professionals who practice in their community?

Q: The DSM-IV-TR system is based on pathology and the medical model of mental illness, whereas counseling is grounded in the wellness model. Why must counselors learn to diagnose clinical disorders?

Q: To what degree do you believe counselors are competent to administer and interpret psychological tests?

Q: Evaluation as an end in itself is a very different process from counseling. Why would a counselor want to be an evaluator?

Q: What should counselors tell potential counseling group members to ensure adequate informed consent?

Q: Why do think marriage and family counselors end up embroiled in their clients' lawsuits so often?

Q: How is confidentiality different when counseling couples, families, or groups, as opposed to counseling an individual client?

Q: How would you respond if you were a provider of counseling services for a managed care organization and you believed your client needed additional counseling sessions, but the case manager told you that no more counseling sessions would be provided?

Q: What is your opinion of laws that make it a crime for a counselor to fail to report cases of suspected abuse of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult?

Q: If a formal ethics complaint is filed against you, you should NOTa. 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.

Q: How can a counselor determine whether an adolescent client's risk-taking behaviors present a sufficiently serious risk for harm to warrant breaching the client's confidentiality?