Q&A Hero

Q: If you determine that another counselor is engaging in an illegal activity, a. you must report the crime to the police. b. you should tell the counselor's administrative supervisor immediately. c. you should inform the counselor you are aware of the illegal activity and demand that the counselor refrain from such activity in the future. d. you may decide to ignore the activity or take some kind of action, depending on the situation. e. since you are not legally obligated to report crimes to the police, you should not get involved.

Q: Why do you think minors under the age of 18 in the United States are not able to assert their legal rights on their own, but instead are required to assert their legal rights in court through their parents or guardians?

Q: If you believe another counselor is behaving in an unethical manner, the first thing you should do is a. report the matter to the counselor's administrative supervisor. b. discuss the matter with the counselor and attempt to get him or her to change the behavior. c. file a complaint with the state licensure board. d. file a complaint with the American Counseling Association Ethics Committee. e. attempt to get another counselor to go with you to the counselor to confront him or her regarding the issue.

Q: How do you think legal and ethical requirements might come into conflict with each other when counseling minor clients?

Q: When local chapters, state branches, regions, and divisions of ACA receive ethical complaints against members, they refer them to a. the supervisor of the counselor. b. the American Psychological Association ethics committee. c. the state licensing board. d. a certification board. e. the national ACA ethics committee.

Q: What would you do if you found that you felt a strong sexual attraction to a client you were counseling?

Q: The primary purpose of the ACA Code of Ethics is a. to guide our own behavior. b. to address in an appropriate manner the behavior of other mental health professionals that appears to be unethical. c. to set standards for ethics committees to use when complaints are filed. d. to provide a means of punishing unethical counselors. e. to prove to the public that counselors are professionals.

Q: What are differences between a friendship and a counseling relationship?

Q: A counselor who is dealing with an angry client who is threatening to sue the counselor should a. respond directly to the person making the threat, if possible. b. calm the person down, if possible, and listen to the concerns. c. be careful and not admit to wrongdoing. d. not say anything you would not want repeated or would not want to repeat yourself under oath at a later time. e. all of the above.

Q: Do you think a sexual relationship between a counselor and a former client is ever acceptable? Why or why not?

Q: Counselors engage in many activities that could result in ethical complaints against them. They must report a. cases of suspected child abuse. b. clients who commit minor crimes. c. child custody evaluators who are biased. d. breaches of confidentiality by counseling group members. e. directives from a supervisor that seem ill-advised.

Q: What are some measures you might take to minimize the risk that you could be sued for malpractice as a counselor?

Q: When you have an ethical question and you are having trouble making a decision, you should a. consult with colleagues. b. take advice from an attorney. c. ask the ethics committee of the state branch of ACA. d. consult a licensing board. e. avoid mention of your decision-making process in your case notes.

Q: If a client makes a serious threat to harm another person, the law in all states except Texas requires the counselor to either warn the intended victim or inform the police of the threat. Do you think this legal requirement is good or bad? Why?

Q: Most legal issues faced by counselors involve a. improper conduct complaints filed against them. b. malpractice. c. acting as a witness in litigation concerning other people. d. law suits involving insurance fraud. e. sexual relationships with clients.

Q: How does a counselor determine whether a client is suicidal?

Q: It is impossible for counselors to understand all aspects of the law but the best advice for counselors who face legal questions is to a. listen to their lawyer and do what the lawyer says. b. educate themselves about the law and avoid lawyers. c. obtain licensure to protect themselves. d. purchase minimal professional liability insurance coverage. e. avoid problems by always doing things in such a way that no one could ever complain.

Q: What do you think should be done if a counselor becomes addicted to alcohol and is not counseling effectively?

Q: Parents who object to their child's participation in counseling a. have no legal rights. b. have limited legal rights if there is a statute in the state that addresses the issue. c. may have the right to demand that services be discontinued. d. should be reported for suspected child abuse. e. can win a law suit if they sue based on violation of their first amendment rights.

Q: In determining whether a child is a danger to self or others, the counselor should do all of the following EXCEPT a. consult with a colleague. b. consider the age and maturity level of the client. c. follow the institutional policy on the issue. d. assure the client of complete confidentiality. e. document any actions taken.

Q: Minor clients have a. an ethical right to privacy and confidentiality, but no legal right in most states. b. an ethical and a legal right to privacy and confidentiality in most states. c. a legal right to determine when parents should become involved in the counseling process. d. no ethical or legal rights. e. a legal right to remain in counseling over their parents' objections.

Q: The ­­­_____________ credential is offered through the Center for Credentialing and Education by NBCC for those interested in specializing in distance counseling. a. Distance Certified Counselor (DCC) b. National Distance Counselor (NDC) c. Certified Distance Counselor (CDC) d. National Certified Distance Counselor (NCDC) e. Distance Certified Counseling Specialist (DCCS)

Q: Which of the following is TRUE of cultural diversity in technology use:a. researchers have found that technology use is generally uniform across cultural boundaries.b. Hispanic and Black individuals are more likely to own a computer than White and Asian counterparts.c. those without a high school diploma have higher rates of access to high speed internet than those with higher levels of education.d. Asian and White individuals are more likely to own computers and have access to high speed internet than Hispanic and Black individuals.e. Internet use appears to be highest among those of lower socioeconomic statuses and educational attainment levels.

Q: Storing clients' records electronically a. provides a higher level of security than paper records. b. is not cost effective. c. is the preferred method for storing client records. d. ensures confidentiality. e. prevents unauthorized individuals from viewing records.

Q: Disadvantages of email communication with clients include all of the following EXCEPT:a. confidential information in emails can be saved on computers or email servers.b. recipients may misinterpret information and are not necessarily able to ask for immediate clarification.c. email messages can be easily forwarded to others or sent to the wrong recipient by mistake.d. messages can be altered before being forwarded to another party.e. the ease of email communication encourages formality and professionalism.

Q: When communicating with clients over the phone, counselors shoulda. inform the client that he or she must speak to the counselor face-to-face because phone communication of confidential issues is unethical.b. assume that the conversation cannot be intercepted due to encryption software on cell phones.c. acknowledge that the client is receiving services to unknown callers reporting that they know the client.d. state information off the record and informally if the client and counselor have good rapport.e. attempt to verify the client's identity, and demonstrate caution and professionalism when discussing confidential information.

Q: All of the following are challenges associated with distance counseling, EXCEPT:a. loss of body language, inflection, and other cues to communication.b. licensing concerns relative to practicing across state and international boundaries.c. limited effectiveness of counseling services that are not delivered face-to-face.d. reimbursement by insurance providers.e. need to continuously update ethical codes to address distance counseling.

Q: In distance counseling, counselors may be subject toa. only the ethical standards developed by the state counseling association in which the client resides.b. ethical standards developed by ACA and state licensing boards, and the laws and regulations of both the counselor's and the client's physical locationsc. ethical standards, but not legal requirements, as laws do not yet address distance counselingd. only the ethical standards developed by the state counseling association in which the counselor resides.e. only ethical standards developed by NBCC for credentialed distance counselors

Q: In distance counseling, informed consent should includea. the type of software used, guarantee of confidentiality and privacy, and consent to view client social mediab. consent to waive right to confidentiality and privacy, as it cannot be guaranteed in distance counselingc. consent to waive counselor liability in the event of client crisis, as the counselor may be in a different time zone or otherwise inaccessibled. the same information as typical face-to-face informed consent.e. distance counseling credentials, cultural/language differences, time zone differences, emergency procedures to follow if the counselor is not available, anticipated response time, and possible denial of insurance

Q: The following are true of distance counseling services EXCEPT:a. it can provide clients with greater access to counseling services.b. it can present issues related to licensure and the ability to practice across stateand international boundaries.c. is controversial because the ACA Code of Ethics does not address this practice.d. credentialing is available for counselors interested in distance counseling.e. counselors must take steps to verify clients' identities.

Q: Counselors may view a client's social media profile a. never. b. when the client has given the counselor consent to view the information. c. if the counselor has concerns about a client's safety. d. to determine whether the client shares acquaintances with the counselor. e. to verify a client's identity.

Q: Counselors who use social media profile sites for personal purposes should NOT 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

Q: The practice of providing counseling services over the Internet 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.

Q: Internet sites that contain career information that might be helpful to clients 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.

Q: When a counselor communicates with a client using e-mail 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.

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

Q: Counselors who work in the military may encounter unavoidable dual relationship issues because a. military counselors are rarely asked to evaluate service members whom they counsel b. military counselors may have a superior-subordinate relationship with their clients c. counselors who work in the military usually practice off-base d. it is difficult for someone steeped in military training to feel empathy e. they are less comfortable with role blending than are counselors in other settings

Q: All of the following statements regarding dual relationships are true, EXCEPT a. it can be difficult to recognize potential dual relationships before they occur b. the counseling profession has little consensus about their propriety, with the exception of sexual dual relationships c. all dual relationships are avoidable if the counselor practices conscientiously d. traditional notions about the propriety of dual relationships are being challenged by newer, innovative approaches to counseling e. the potential outcomes of dual relationships range from beneficial to harmful

Q: A definition of a "boundary" that is offered in the text is a. a limit that promotes nonmaleficence b. a frame around the therapeutic relationship that defines the participants' roles in the relationship c. a situation in which a counselor enters into two or more roles with a help seeker d. an inappropriate intimacy between counselor and client e. a potentially beneficial interaction between counselor and client

Q: When counseling clients who have been sexually exploited by a previous mental health professional, counselors should a. report the offending professional to the appropriate state licensing board. b. report the offending professional to the ACA Ethics Committee. c. encourage the client to file a lawsuit against the offending professional. d. respect the client's decision to take action or not to take action against the offending professional. e. advocate for the client by filing an ethics complaint on the client's behalf.

Q: Alice is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has counseled Thomas for several months. An issue to which they have devoted considerable time is Thomas' fear of failure, particularly in terms of his ability to succeed academically and complete his G.E.D. When Thomas learns that he has passed his G.E.D. exam, he asks Alice to attend the ceremony at which he will receive his G.E.D. diploma, and she accepts the invitation. This is an example of a. poor professional judgment. b. a boundary violation. c. a boundary crossing. d. a detrimental dual relationship. e. a violation of the code of ethics standard on non-professional relationships.

Q: The typical counselor who enters into a sexual relationship with a client is a. one who has had a number of ethical complaints filed against him/her in the past. b. is a professionally isolated male counselor who is experiencing distress or crisis in his personal life. c. is a male counselor under the age of 30. d. is a counselor who has few friends and who has low self-esteem. e. is a person who has a number of emotional problems and who has been in counseling for a number of years.

Q: Counselors who hug their clients a. would never get into trouble as long as the counselor can justify the hug as part of the therapeutic process. b. are doing what almost all counselors do at some point in their careers. c. will never be able to obtain professional liability insurance. d. expose themselves to serious claims of ethical violations because of the prohibition against touching clients in the professional literature. e. should be cautious and ensure the client is comfortable with the touching.

Q: A counselor's self-disclosure in a counseling session a. may be acceptable if the counselor believes the disclosure will benefit the client. b. is acceptable if the client is not uncomfortable with the counselor's disclosure. c. is encouraged to demonstrate that the counselor is genuine and human. d. usually results in harm to the client. e. is a practice that is universally accepted by counseling professionals.

Q: To be a culturally sensitive counselor, when a client from a different culture offers a counselor a gift, the counselor a. should never accept the gift. b. should always accept the gift. c. should take into primary consideration the monetary value of the gift. d. should evaluate the meaning the client attaches to the offering of the gift. e. should consider offering a similar gift in return.

Q: The primary difference between a boundary crossing and a boundary violation is a. everyone agrees when a boundary has been violated, whereas it is hard to reach agreement as to whether a boundary has been crossed. b. a violation involves a sexual relationship. c. a crossing occurs in almost every counseling session, while violations are less frequent. d. in a crossing, a boundary is shifted to meet the needs of the counselor, making sure the client is not harmed in the process. e. a violation involves a serious breach of the code of ethics that results in a client being harmed.

Q: Regarding dual relationships between counselors and clients a. counselors are in agreement that such relationships are always wrong. b. experts all agree that such relationships are always harmful to clients. c. there is no consensus among professionals as to which dual relationships are acceptable and which are not. d. most counselors agree that dual relationships invite greater authenticity and congruence from counselors and can improve their professional judgments. e. experts agree that if clients assent to dual relationships, the dual relationships are acceptable to the profession.

Q: The only dual relationships that are prohibited by the ACA Code of Ethics are those a. involving loans from the client to the counselor. b. involving a sexual relationship between the client and the counselor. c. that a reasonable person would object to. d. in which the counselor and client both knew before the dual relationship began knew that it might be problematic, but went ahead and entered into it anyway. e. involving business relationships between the counselor and the client .

Q: Boundaries serve to protect the welfare of clients because a. counselors are vulnerable in counseling relationships. b. clients are vulnerable in counseling relationships. c. counselors and clients would often become friends if boundaries did not exist. d. counselors and clients naturally are attracted to each other. e. clients might use counselors to get their personal needs met if there were no boundaries.

Q: Friendships with former clients a. are prohibited by the ACA Code of Ethics. b. specifically are allowed, under specified conditions, by the ACA Code of Ethics. c. generally should be avoided because they create a potential for problems d. occur infrequently because most counselors disapprove of them in all circumstances. e. have been entered into by about 95% of all counselors.

Q: It would be ethically permissible for you to consider entering into a bartering arrangement with a prospective client if a. bartering is an acceptable practice among other professionals in your community. b. you cannot afford to provide pro bono service. c. you suggest bartering and the client agrees to this arrangement. d. the client does not have mental health insurance. e. you are designing and plan to build a new house and the client is an architect whose skills you can use.

Q: When an ethical complaint is filed against a counselor and is pending an investigation, an employer may not:a. complete their own investigation into the ethical complaintb. allow the counselor to continue to provide servicesc. deny a promotion solely based upon the filing of an ethical complaintd. allow the counselor to practice without supervisione. hire the counselor as a new employee

Q: To avoid accusations of unethical or illegal behavior, the authors suggested thefollowing regarding counselor self-disclosure:a. Counselors should avoid self-disclosure as it crosses professional boundaries.b. Counselors may engage in self-disclosure as long as the disclosure benefits the client and not the counselor's personal needs.c. Counselors should only self-disclose personal information that clients can find on the Internet.d. Counselors should document all self-disclosures in clinical case notes.e. Counselors should consult with supervisors and attorneys before making self-disclosures in sessions.

Q: Counselors have a duty to warn intended victims of their clients in all states EXCEPT:a. Kansasb. Ohioc. Arkansasd. Texase. California

Q: If a formal ethics complaint is filed against you, you should NOT a. 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: If you determine that another counselor is engaging in an illegal activity, a. you must report the crime to the police. b. you should tell the counselor's administrative supervisor immediately. c. you should inform the counselor you are aware of the illegal activity and demand that the counselor refrain from such activity in the future. d. you may decide to ignore the activity or take some kind of action, depending on the situation. e. since you are not legally obligated to report crimes to the police, you should not get involved.

Q: If you believe another counselor is behaving in an unethical manner, the first thing you should do is a. report the matter to the counselor's administrative supervisor. b. discuss the matter with the counselor and attempt to get him or her to change the behavior. c. file a complaint with the state licensure board. d. file a complaint with the American Counseling Association Ethics Committee. e. attempt to get another counselor to go with you to the counselor to confront him or her regarding the issue.

Q: When local chapters, state branches, regions, and divisions of ACA receive ethical complaints against members, they refer them to a. the supervisor of the counselor. b. the American Psychological Association ethics committee. c. the state licensing board. d. a certification board. e. the national ACA ethics committee.

Q: The primary purpose of the ACA Code of Ethics is a. to guide our own behavior. b. to address in an appropriate manner the behavior of other mental health professionals that appears to be unethical. c. to set standards for ethics committees to use when complaints are filed. d. to provide a means of punishing unethical counselors. e. to prove to the public that counselors are professionals.

Q: A counselor who is dealing with an angry client who is threatening to sue the counselor should a. respond directly to the person making the threat, if possible. b. calm the person down, if possible, and listen to the concerns. c. be careful and not admit to wrongdoing. d. not say anything you would not want repeated or would not want to repeat yourself under oath at a later time. e. all of the above.

Q: Counselors engage in many activities that could result in ethical complaints against them. They must report a. cases of suspected child abuse. b. clients who commit minor crimes. c. child custody evaluators who are biased. d. breaches of confidentiality by counseling group members. e. directives from a supervisor that seem ill-advised.

Q: When you have an ethical question and you are having trouble making a decision, you should a. consult with colleagues. b. take advice from an attorney. c. ask the ethics committee of the state branch of ACA. d. consult a licensing board. e. avoid mention of your decision-making process in your case notes.

Q: Most legal issues faced by counselors involve a. improper conduct complaints filed against them. b. malpractice. c. acting as a witness in litigation concerning other people. d. law suits involving insurance fraud. e. sexual relationships with clients.

Q: It is impossible for counselors to understand all aspects of the law but the best advice for counselors who face legal questions is to a. listen to their lawyer and do what the lawyer says. b. educate themselves about the law and avoid lawyers. c. obtain licensure to protect themselves. d. purchase minimal professional liability insurance coverage. e. avoid problems by always doing things in such a way that no one could ever complain.

Q: With respect to a counselor's legal liability when a client commits suicide a. very few lawsuits are filed against counselors due to client suicide. b. when lawsuits have been brought against counselors due to client suicide, the counselors usually have been found negligent. c. the case of Eisel v. Board of Education established that school counselors cannot be held responsible for a student's suicide. d. counselors are held to the legal standard that they must correctly assess suicide risk e. counselors should not document consultations regarding suicidal clients, because the documentation could later be used against them in a lawsuit.

Q: Malpractice is a type of civil lawsuit that can be filed against counseling professionals for practicing in a manner that leads to a. injury to a recipient of their services. b. dissatisfaction with the result of the counseling experience. c. divorce, when a married couple has sought counseling. d. the development of new behaviors that are counterproductive to clients, but not injurious. e. injury to other counselors.

Q: With respect to what mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose using the DSM system a. only psychologists and psychiatrists are qualified to utilize this system b. counselors do not receive adequate training at the master's degree level to be qualified to use this system c. only psychiatrists should use the DSM system, because it is based on the medical model d. managed health care companies will reimburse only psychiatrists for DSM diagnoses e. the DSM manual specifically includes counselors as users of the DSM system

Q: The ACA Code of Ethics requires counselors to explain to clients, before testing takes place, all of the following EXCEPT a. that clients may ask questions while they are taking the test if any items are confusing to them. b. the nature and purposes of the tests. c. whether test results will be used as a screening tool for membership in a counseling group. d. what conditions produce the best test results. e. that they will receive feedback about the test results.

Q: Competence is most closely related to the moral principle of a. fiduciary relationships b. professionalism c. integrity d. do no harm e. autonomy

Q: The standard used to determine whether a particular counselor is qualified to administer and interpret a particular test a. has been developed by the American Psychological Association. b. is so broad that any professional can administer and interpret any test. c. is established by each state by the state licensure board for psychologists. d. is not absolute and each counselor must make that determination for himself/herself. e. is based on a formula that includes graduate courses taken, number of administrations of that particular test previously, and amount of supervised experience giving that particular test.

Q: Studies regarding cultural bias in diagnosis have shown that a. because most clients in counseling are women, diagnosis tends to be less accurate for male clients than for female clients b. African American clients are more likely to be diagnosed with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia c. Hispanic clients are less likely to be diagnosed with depressive disorders d. counselors, compared to other mental health professionals, are less likely to allow gender stereotypes to influence their diagnoses e. female clients are less likely to be prescribed psychotropic medications

Q: When a counselor determines that a client may be at risk for harming self or others, the counselor always must a. call the police. b. take the steps necessary to prevent harm. c. call an ambulance to take the client to the hospital emergency room. d. notify individuals with whom the client lives. e. notify the parents of the client.

Q: The primary purpose of diagnosis is to a. label clients. b. facilitate effective treatment. c. help clients gain future employment. d. obtain insurance reimbursement. e. show that a particular client has a verifiable mental disorder.

Q: Distressed counselors or counselors suffering from burnout are terms used to refer to a. incompetent counselors. b. counselors who have committed malpractice. c. counselors who have had their licenses revoked. d. impaired counselors. e. counselors who have recently been fired from their jobs.

Q: Key points with respect to diagnosis include all of the following EXCEPT a. clients should not be told the diagnosis that has been assigned to them. b. counselors must be alert to sources of bias against women and minority group members in the diagnostic process. c. counselors should cooperate with physicians when clients may have a physical condition that is contributing to their mental or emotional problems or when they could benefit from taking medications for their condition. d. multicultural considerations are of paramount importance in diagnosis because all mental disorders occur in and are defined by a cultural context. e. counselors are guilty of insurance fraud when they do not diagnosis honestly and accurately and they can be subject to both civil and criminal liability.

Q: An argument AGAINST licensing specialties within the counseling profession (such as marriage and family counselors, rehabilitation counselors, career counselors, etc.) is a. it would confuse the public. b. it would be very expensive for counselors to get multiple licenses instead of just one. c. the other professions, such as medicine and law, license professionals to practice their profession generally, and those who are licensed decide which areas they are competent to practice in. d. counselors who practice in various specialty areas are so different from each other that each specialty within counseling is like a separate and distinct profession. e. the public should be counseled only by individuals who are specialists within the counseling profession and they will be harmed if they are counseled by counselors who have not proven their specialty expertise.

Q: Legislators agree to license a professional group, such as counselors, only when it can be shown that a. other professional groups that are already licensed do not oppose the licensing of this new group. b. the public cannot determine which practitioners are competent, and they might be harmed by incompetent members of that profession. c. the public cannot determine which practitioners are competent, and the services the professional group provides require extensive education. d. the rates for services of the professional group will go down if they are licensed. e. the professional group needs to be licensed in order to gain the recognition it needs to be recognized as a legitimate profession in society.

Q: Registration is the form of state regulation of a profession that a. is the most rigorous form of regulation, in that only those who are registered may practice the profession in a state. b. protects a title, such as "Professional Counselor," but anyone can practice the profession without being registered. c. requires members of a profession to sign up with the government if they practice the profession in the state, but anyone may sign the registry without a review of their credentials. d. grants a state credential if a person has a national certification. e. is issued by a state agency, but never by an independent state board.

Q: Graduate degree programs in counseling attempt to ensure their graduates are competent counselors by doing all of the following EXCEPT a. selecting and admitting individuals who are likely to succeed at developing the skills, knowledge, and characteristics needed to become effective counselors. b. using personal interviews, written essays, or other subjective criteria in selecting candidates for admission. c. providing a curriculum for master's students that prepares students to be effective counselors. d. eliminating from graduate programs any students who have their own emotional issues. e. requiring successful supervised experience as a part of the graduate program.

Q: Which of the following statements regarding counselor competence is FALSE? a. once counselors have become licensed, the burden of ensuring competent services falls on the counselors themselves. b. competence in counseling is difficult to define. c. there is a continuum of professional expertise with gross negligence at one end and maximum effectiveness at the other extreme. d. licensure ensures that practitioners are competent to do what their licenses permit them to do. e. counselors are ethically required to counsel only within the boundaries of their competence.