ASPPB Ethical Standards & Professional Conduct 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A psychologist is asked by a client to write a letter supporting their emotional support animal (ESA) for housing. The psychologist has only met with the client twice. The most ethical approach is to:
- Write the letter immediately to support the client's stated need
- Decline under all circumstances as ESA letters are outside scope
- Conduct a thorough assessment to support the documentation with clinical validity (Correct answer)
- Refer the client to a psychiatrist for the letter instead
Correct answer: Conduct a thorough assessment to support the documentation with clinical validity
Psychologists must base professional documentation on adequate assessment and not provide letters that misrepresent their knowledge of the client's clinical status.
Question 2: Under ASPPB's Model Act, which behavior would most clearly constitute unprofessional conduct warranting disciplinary action?
- Maintaining detailed session notes beyond the required retention period
- Billing for services not rendered (Correct answer)
- Requiring payment before releasing records in non-emergency situations
- Using a sliding fee scale without advertising it
Correct answer: Billing for services not rendered
Billing for services not rendered constitutes fraud and is a clear violation of professional and ethical conduct standards enforceable by licensing boards.
Question 3: A psychologist who practices in a rural area is the only mental health provider within 50 miles. A potential client is also an acquaintance. The psychologist should:
- Refuse to treat the client under any circumstances to avoid dual relationships
- Proceed with treatment after carefully considering potential risks and documenting the decision (Correct answer)
- Treat the client only if the acquaintance relationship is casual
- Require the client to travel to an urban area for services
Correct answer: Proceed with treatment after carefully considering potential risks and documenting the decision
In rural settings, multiple relationships are sometimes unavoidable; the ethical standard requires careful risk assessment and documentation rather than blanket refusal.
Question 4: Which action best exemplifies the ethical standard of fidelity in professional psychology?
- Charging competitive market rates for services
- Honoring commitments made to clients, colleagues, and the profession (Correct answer)
- Achieving positive outcomes in most treated cases
- Publishing research in peer-reviewed journals
Correct answer: Honoring commitments made to clients, colleagues, and the profession
Fidelity refers to being trustworthy and keeping commitments to those with whom psychologists work, a core principle of the APA Ethics Code.
Question 5: A client who was previously seen for depression contacts a psychologist asking to restart treatment after a 3-year gap. The psychologist should treat this as:
- A continuation of the original treatment plan without reassessment
- A new client intake requiring updated assessment and a new informed consent process (Correct answer)
- A low-priority referral since the client has demonstrated prior success
- An automatic readmission requiring only a brief phone screening
Correct answer: A new client intake requiring updated assessment and a new informed consent process
A significant treatment gap requires treating the person as a new intake, including fresh assessment and updated informed consent to reflect current circumstances.
Question 6: The ASPPB Code of Conduct specifically addresses 'record keeping' by requiring that records be maintained to:
- Maximize billing accuracy and insurance reimbursement
- Facilitate the continuity and quality of care and protect client welfare (Correct answer)
- Provide legal protection for the psychologist in malpractice suits only
- Satisfy employer documentation quotas
Correct answer: Facilitate the continuity and quality of care and protect client welfare
Record keeping standards in psychology are primarily designed to ensure continuity of care and protect client welfare, not primarily for billing or legal self-protection.
Question 7: A psychologist who provides expert witness testimony that they know is scientifically unsupported because it favors the retaining attorney's case is violating which ethical standard?
- Competence, by practicing outside their area of expertise
- Integrity, by misrepresenting scientific knowledge (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality, by disclosing client information in court
- Beneficence, by failing to benefit the retaining party
Correct answer: Integrity, by misrepresenting scientific knowledge
Providing false or misleading expert testimony violates the APA ethical standard of integrity, which prohibits misrepresentation of psychological science.
ASPPB Ethical Standards & Professional Conduct 5
A psychologist is asked by a client to write a letter supporting their emotional support animal (ESA) for housing.
The psychologist has only met with the client twice.
The most ethical approach is to: