Legal & Ethical Considerations in Anger Therapy Flashcards
7 cards from real CART practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Legal & Ethical Considerations in Anger Therapy flashcards as text
A client discloses during anger therapy that they have been physically abusing their elderly parent. What is the therapist's primary legal obligation?
Answer: File a mandatory report with adult protective services
Therapists are mandatory reporters for elder abuse in most U.S. jurisdictions and must report to adult protective services regardless of confidentiality.
Which ethical principle is MOST violated when an anger therapist accepts a client's gift of significant monetary value?
Answer: Nonmaleficence
Accepting gifts of significant value can harm the therapeutic relationship and exploit the client, violating the principle of nonmaleficence.
A CART practitioner is subpoenaed to testify about a client's anger management sessions in a custody dispute. What is the most appropriate first action?
Answer: Consult with an attorney and notify the client before disclosing
The therapist should consult legal counsel and notify the client, as the client holds the privilege and may choose to waive or assert it.
An anger therapy client reveals a detailed plan to assault a coworker next week. Under the Tarasoff duty, the therapist MUST:
Answer: Warn the identifiable victim and notify law enforcement
The Tarasoff ruling established the duty to protect identifiable third parties from credible threats, typically through warning the victim and notifying authorities.
When obtaining informed consent for anger management therapy, which element is MOST critical to include?
Answer: Limits of confidentiality including mandatory reporting situations
Clients must be informed of confidentiality limits, including mandatory reporting triggers, before therapy begins to ensure truly informed consent.
A CART practitioner learns that a former client (therapy ended 18 months ago) has developed romantic feelings for them. Entering a romantic relationship at this time would be:
Answer: Prohibited as most ethics codes require a minimum 2-year post-termination period
Most professional ethics codes prohibit sexual or romantic relationships with former clients for at least two years post-termination, and even then require justification.
Which documentation practice BEST protects an anger therapist from liability when a client makes vague threats?
Answer: Document the exact words used, risk assessment steps taken, and clinical rationale for the plan
Thorough, specific documentation of threats, risk assessments, and clinical reasoning demonstrates the standard of care and protects the therapist legally.