CBHT Ethics & Professionalism 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client discloses during a session that they plan to seriously harm a specific coworker next week. What is the BHT's primary obligation?
- Keep the information confidential per HIPAA
- Report the threat to the supervisor immediately so the duty-to-warn protocol can be activated (Correct answer)
- Encourage the client to talk more before escalating
- Document the statement and review it at next week's team meeting
Correct answer: Report the threat to the supervisor immediately so the duty-to-warn protocol can be activated
When a client makes a credible threat of harm to an identifiable third party, the BHT must immediately report to a supervisor to trigger duty-to-warn and duty-to-protect obligations.
Question 2: A BHT notices a colleague falsifying progress notes by copying last week's notes verbatim. The best course of action is to:
- Confront the colleague publicly in the team meeting
- Report the concern to a supervisor or compliance officer (Correct answer)
- Ignore it because it does not affect client care directly
- Help the colleague rewrite the notes correctly yourself
Correct answer: Report the concern to a supervisor or compliance officer
Falsifying documentation is an ethical and legal violation; the BHT is obligated to report such misconduct through proper channels.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes 'scope of practice' for a BHT?
- All therapeutic interventions the BHT has personally studied
- The defined boundaries of tasks and responsibilities authorized for the BHT's credential and employer (Correct answer)
- Any task the supervising clinician verbally approves in the moment
- Services covered by the client's insurance plan
Correct answer: The defined boundaries of tasks and responsibilities authorized for the BHT's credential and employer
Scope of practice refers to the legally and professionally defined tasks a BHT is trained, credentialed, and authorized to perform.
Question 4: A BHT receives a friend request on social media from a current client. The most appropriate response is to:
- Accept the request but limit posts the client can see
- Decline and discuss appropriate boundaries with the supervisor (Correct answer)
- Accept only if the therapeutic relationship ends first
- Ignore the request without any follow-up
Correct answer: Decline and discuss appropriate boundaries with the supervisor
Accepting social media contact from a current client blurs professional boundaries; the BHT should decline and consult a supervisor.
Question 5: When a BHT disagrees with a treatment plan created by the supervising clinician, the appropriate action is to:
- Implement a different plan they believe is more effective
- Document the disagreement and discuss it privately with the supervisor (Correct answer)
- Ask the client which plan they prefer
- Follow the plan without raising concerns to avoid conflict
Correct answer: Document the disagreement and discuss it privately with the supervisor
BHTs must follow the supervisor's treatment plan but are ethically encouraged to express professional concerns through proper, respectful communication.
Question 6: Which action by a BHT would most likely violate client dignity?
- Using the client's preferred name and pronouns
- Discussing a client's personal struggles loudly in a public break room (Correct answer)
- Knocking before entering a client's room
- Explaining a procedure before performing it
Correct answer: Discussing a client's personal struggles loudly in a public break room
Discussing a client's personal information in a public area violates both dignity and confidentiality.
Question 7: A BHT is asked by a client's employer to confirm whether the client is receiving treatment. Without a signed release of information, the BHT should:
- Confirm only the start date of services
- Neither confirm nor deny the client's involvement in treatment (Correct answer)
- Provide the information since it is employment-related
- Ask the client verbally and proceed if they agree
Correct answer: Neither confirm nor deny the client's involvement in treatment
Without a valid written release of information, the BHT cannot disclose any details about a client's treatment, including whether they are a client at all.
CBHT Ethics & Professionalism 2
A client discloses during a session that they plan to seriously harm a specific coworker next week.
What is the BHT's primary obligation?