Ethics, Legal Issues & Professional Boundaries Flashcards

A counselor is subpoenaed to testify about a client's statements made during crisis counseling. The counselor should first:

Answer: Consult with an attorney and assert privilege on the client's behalf

Upon receiving a subpoena, counselors should seek legal guidance and assert privileged communication protections until a court orders otherwise.

The Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California ruling established that therapists have a duty to:

Answer: Warn identifiable third parties of credible threats made by clients

Tarasoff established the duty to protect identifiable third parties from credible, serious threats made by clients.

A crisis counselor discloses personal struggles with depression to a client, saying it will help the client feel understood. This is best described as:

Answer: An inappropriate boundary crossing that serves the counselor's needs

Self-disclosure is ethically appropriate only when it serves the client's therapeutic needs, not the counselor's need for connection or validation.

Which standard guides crisis counselors in determining whether their actions could be considered negligent?

Answer: The reasonable care standard

Negligence is evaluated against what a reasonably competent professional with similar training would have done under the same circumstances.

A minor calls a crisis hotline but refuses to identify themselves or their location. Regarding confidentiality, the counselor must:

Answer: Continue to engage the caller while assessing risk, respecting their anonymity unless imminent danger exists

Crisis counselors should engage anonymous callers and assess risk, breaking confidentiality only when imminent danger is established.

An ethically appropriate informed consent process for crisis services must include:

Answer: Disclosure of the limits of confidentiality before services begin

Informed consent must include the limits of confidentiality—such as mandatory reporting and duty-to-warn obligations—before crisis services commence.

A crisis counselor disagrees with a client's decision to refuse hospitalization. The client is competent and not imminently dangerous. The counselor's ethical obligation is to:

Answer: Respect the client's autonomy while providing safety planning

Competent, non-dangerous clients retain the right to refuse treatment; counselors must respect autonomy while offering safety-focused alternatives.