CBMT Music Therapy Ethics and Documentation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The CBMT Code of Professional Practice is PRIMARILY intended to:
- Define music therapy billing rates
- Guide ethical conduct and professional behavior of board-certified music therapists (Correct answer)
- Establish music theory curriculum standards
- Regulate music therapy continuing education providers
Correct answer: Guide ethical conduct and professional behavior of board-certified music therapists
The CBMT Code of Professional Practice establishes standards for ethical conduct and professional behavior expected of all board-certified music therapists.
Question 2: A music therapist discovers that a colleague is engaging in a dual relationship with a client. The MOST appropriate first step is to:
- Report immediately to licensing authorities
- Confront the colleague directly in front of the client
- Consult the CBMT Code of Professional Practice and seek supervision (Correct answer)
- Ignore the situation if no client complaint has been filed
Correct answer: Consult the CBMT Code of Professional Practice and seek supervision
Consulting the Code of Professional Practice and seeking supervision provides ethical guidance and ensures the response follows proper professional and ethical channels.
Question 3: Informed consent in music therapy requires that clients understand:
- The therapist's personal music preferences
- The nature, purpose, and potential risks and benefits of music therapy (Correct answer)
- The specific instruments that will be used
- The therapist's professional biography
Correct answer: The nature, purpose, and potential risks and benefits of music therapy
Informed consent means clients are given clear information about the nature, purpose, and potential risks and benefits of music therapy before agreeing to participate.
Question 4: A music therapist receives a gift from a grateful client. According to ethical guidelines, the BEST response is to:
- Accept all gifts to avoid offending the client
- Refuse all gifts regardless of value or context
- Consider the clinical context and consult ethical guidelines before accepting (Correct answer)
- Report the gift offer to administration immediately
Correct answer: Consider the clinical context and consult ethical guidelines before accepting
Ethical guidelines advise music therapists to carefully consider the clinical context, cultural factors, and potential impact on the therapeutic relationship before accepting gifts.
Question 5: Confidentiality in music therapy may be breached when:
- A family member requests session information
- The therapist wants to share an interesting case at a conference
- A client discloses intent to harm themselves or others (Correct answer)
- A colleague asks about the client's progress informally
Correct answer: A client discloses intent to harm themselves or others
Confidentiality may ethically and legally be breached when a client discloses intent to harm themselves or others, to fulfill duty-to-warn and duty-to-protect obligations.
Question 6: Which statement BEST describes professional boundaries in music therapy?
- Boundaries are flexible and change based on client preferences
- Clear boundaries protect both the client and the therapeutic relationship (Correct answer)
- Boundaries can be eliminated if the client and therapist agree
- Boundaries only apply to touch and physical contact
Correct answer: Clear boundaries protect both the client and the therapeutic relationship
Professional boundaries protect the integrity of the therapeutic relationship and ensure the client's safety and well-being throughout the therapy process.
CBMT Music Therapy Ethics and Documentation 1
The CBMT Code of Professional Practice is PRIMARILY intended to: