Professional Ethics and Multicultural Competence Flashcards

A CBT therapist working with a Latino client notices that the client frequently defers to the therapist's opinions and avoids disagreeing. The most culturally competent response is to:

Answer: Recognize that familismo and respeto may influence how the client engages with authority figures

Understanding cultural values like respeto (respect for authority) and familismo helps therapists interpret client behavior through a culturally informed lens rather than pathologizing it.

When a supervisee discloses that they have a romantic interest in a current client, the ethical supervisor should FIRST:

Answer: Explore the supervisee's feelings in a supportive, non-shaming manner and clarify the ethical prohibition

The supervisor's first step is to address the issue educationally and supportively, clarifying that sexual or romantic relationships with clients are ethically prohibited.

A CBT therapist receives a subpoena for a client's therapy records. The therapist should:

Answer: Consult with an attorney and notify the client before releasing records, unless legally prohibited

Receiving a subpoena does not automatically waive confidentiality; the therapist should consult legal counsel and inform the client, as a subpoena differs from a court order.

Which of the following best illustrates the ethical principle of nonmaleficence in CBT practice?

Answer: Avoiding the use of exposure techniques with a client who has unmanaged cardiac conditions without medical clearance

Nonmaleficence means 'do no harm'; avoiding potentially dangerous interventions without appropriate medical clearance exemplifies this principle.

A therapist practicing from a multicultural competence framework understands that acculturation stress in immigrant clients:

Answer: Can manifest as anxiety and depression symptoms and should be contextualized within the client's migration experience

Acculturation stress is a recognized psychosocial stressor, and culturally competent CBT contextualizes symptoms within the client's migration and cultural adaptation experience.

An Asian American client tells the therapist she feels shame about experiencing depression because mental illness is stigmatized in her family. The most culturally responsive CBT approach would be to:

Answer: Explore the cultural meaning of shame and stigma while collaboratively adapting psychoeducation to reduce self-blame

Culturally responsive CBT acknowledges the role of shame and stigma within cultural contexts and adapts interventions collaboratively rather than dismissing cultural experiences.

A therapist realizes they have inadvertently created a dual relationship by joining the same religious congregation as a current client. The ethical course of action is to:

Answer: Consult with a supervisor or ethics board, discuss the situation transparently with the client, and document the steps taken

When an inadvertent dual relationship occurs, ethical practice requires consultation, transparent discussion with the client, and careful documentation of risk management steps.