Crisis Intervention and Suicidality Flashcards

Under California law, a therapist may breach confidentiality without client consent when:

Answer: There is a serious and imminent threat of harm to an identifiable third party

California's Tarasoff duty requires therapists to take reasonable protective steps, including breaching confidentiality, when a client poses a serious and imminent threat to an identifiable third party.

The 'duty to protect' established in Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California requires therapists to:

Answer: Warn or protect identifiable potential victims when a client poses a serious threat

Tarasoff established that therapists must take reasonable steps—including warning identifiable potential victims—when a client poses a serious, credible threat.

California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150 authorizes an involuntary 72-hour psychiatric hold when a person:

Answer: Is a danger to themselves, others, or is gravely disabled due to a mental disorder

WIC 5150 authorizes a 72-hour evaluation hold when a person, as a result of a mental disorder, poses a danger to self, others, or is gravely disabled.

When conducting a suicide risk assessment, which of the following is considered a static (historical) risk factor?

Answer: Previous suicide attempts

Previous suicide attempts are static/historical factors—they have already occurred and cannot change—and are among the strongest predictors of future attempts.

A therapist learns a client has a specific, credible plan to harm a neighbor. Under the Tarasoff duty, the therapist should FIRST:

Answer: Conduct a thorough clinical assessment to evaluate seriousness and imminence of the threat

Clinical assessment of the threat's seriousness and imminence must precede action to determine the appropriate protective response.

Which action does NOT fulfill a therapist's 'duty to protect' obligation under California law?

Answer: Terminating the therapeutic relationship without any follow-up or protective action

Simply ending treatment without taking affirmative protective steps does not satisfy the duty to protect; therapists must take reasonable action to safeguard identifiable victims.

Under California law, when is a therapist legally REQUIRED (not merely permitted) to break confidentiality for a suicidal client?

Answer: There is no absolute legal requirement—breaching confidentiality for suicidality is a matter of clinical judgment

California law permits therapists to breach confidentiality for suicidal clients but does not universally mandate it; therapists must exercise clinical judgment based on imminence and severity.