CART Legal & Ethical Considerations in Anger Therapy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client discloses during anger therapy that they have been physically abusing their elderly parent. What is the therapist's primary legal obligation?
- Maintain confidentiality since the client is the one in therapy
- File a mandatory report with adult protective services (Correct answer)
- Warn only the abused parent directly
- Consult a supervisor before taking any action
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which ethical principle is MOST violated when an anger therapist accepts a client's gift of significant monetary value?
- Beneficence
- Nonmaleficence (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
- Fidelity
Correct answer: Nonmaleficence
Accepting gifts of significant value can harm the therapeutic relationship and exploit the client, violating the principle of nonmaleficence.
Question 3: 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?
- Comply immediately and provide all session notes
- Refuse to testify on the grounds of privileged communication
- Consult with an attorney and notify the client before disclosing (Correct answer)
- Transfer the case to another therapist
Correct 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.
Question 4: An anger therapy client reveals a detailed plan to assault a coworker next week. Under the Tarasoff duty, the therapist MUST:
- Only document the threat in session notes
- Warn the identifiable victim and notify law enforcement (Correct answer)
- Hospitalize the client immediately without any other steps
- Increase session frequency as the sole intervention
Correct 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.
Question 5: When obtaining informed consent for anger management therapy, which element is MOST critical to include?
- The therapist's personal opinions on anger
- Limits of confidentiality including mandatory reporting situations (Correct answer)
- The therapist's fee schedule only
- A guarantee of treatment success
Correct 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.
Question 6: 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:
- Acceptable since the therapeutic relationship has ended
- Prohibited as most ethics codes require a minimum 2-year post-termination period (Correct answer)
- Allowed if the client initiates the relationship
- Permissible with supervisor approval
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which documentation practice BEST protects an anger therapist from liability when a client makes vague threats?
- Avoid writing specifics to protect client privacy
- Document the exact words used, risk assessment steps taken, and clinical rationale for the plan (Correct answer)
- Only note that a 'safety concern' was discussed
- Delete prior session notes to avoid confusion
Correct 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.
CART Legal & Ethical Considerations in Anger Therapy 2
A client discloses during anger therapy that they have been physically abusing their elderly parent.
What is the therapist's primary legal obligation?