CPCE Professional Orientation & Ethics 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which landmark legal case established the duty-to-warn doctrine that significantly impacts counselor confidentiality?
- Jaffee v. Redmond (1996)
- Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California (1976) (Correct answer)
- Parham v. J.R. (1979)
- Roe v. Wade (1973)
Correct answer: Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California (1976)
Tarasoff v. Regents (1976) established that therapists have a duty to protect identifiable third parties from clients who pose a serious threat.
Question 2: A counselor terminates a client abruptly after a disagreement about fees. This could constitute:
- A justifiable boundary-setting measure
- Abandonment, which is an ethical violation (Correct answer)
- Appropriate use of counselor discretion
- A legal termination under insurance contract terms
Correct answer: Abandonment, which is an ethical violation
Abandonment occurs when a counselor terminates services without adequate notice or transition planning, leaving the client without needed care.
Question 3: The term 'cultural humility' in counseling practice differs from 'cultural competence' in that cultural humility emphasizes:
- Mastering knowledge of all cultural groups before treating diverse clients
- An ongoing process of self-reflection and openness to learning from clients about their cultural experience (Correct answer)
- Applying culturally-specific interventions with fidelity
- Avoiding assumptions by using only standardized assessment tools
Correct answer: An ongoing process of self-reflection and openness to learning from clients about their cultural experience
Cultural humility is a lifelong process of critical self-reflection and willingness to learn, rather than a fixed endpoint of cultural knowledge acquisition.
Question 4: A counselor working with a suicidal client should prioritize which action when the client refuses hospitalization?
- Respect autonomy and allow the client to leave without intervention
- Conduct a thorough risk assessment, explore least-restrictive options, and document decisions carefully (Correct answer)
- Immediately call emergency services regardless of assessed risk level
- Terminate services to avoid legal liability
Correct answer: Conduct a thorough risk assessment, explore least-restrictive options, and document decisions carefully
Ethical crisis management requires thorough risk assessment, exploring the least-restrictive intervention, collaborative safety planning, and careful documentation.
Question 5: Under ACA ethics, a counselor may engage in bartering with a client (exchanging services for goods) only when:
- The client specifically requests it and it is more convenient
- It is not exploitative, is culturally relevant, and is agreed upon in a written informed consent document (Correct answer)
- The counselor's fees exceed the client's income level
- State law explicitly permits it for licensed counselors
Correct answer: It is not exploitative, is culturally relevant, and is agreed upon in a written informed consent document
The ACA Code permits bartering only when it is not exploitative, is culturally appropriate, and is formally documented in the counseling agreement.
Question 6: A counselor who regularly attends personal therapy to process their own issues is primarily engaging in which professional responsibility?
- Mandatory supervision as required by licensure boards
- Counselor self-care and wellness to maintain professional effectiveness (Correct answer)
- Required clinical training under CACREP standards
- Cultural competency development
Correct answer: Counselor self-care and wellness to maintain professional effectiveness
ACA ethics encourage counselors to engage in ongoing self-care, including personal therapy, to prevent burnout and maintain professional effectiveness.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the ethical obligation of a counselor who disagrees with a supervisor's clinical decision?
- Follow the supervisor's decision without question due to their authority
- Address the disagreement through appropriate channels such as direct dialogue, consultation, or formal grievance (Correct answer)
- Override the supervisor's decision if the counselor believes they are correct
- Immediately report the supervisor to the licensing board
Correct answer: Address the disagreement through appropriate channels such as direct dialogue, consultation, or formal grievance
Counselors are expected to advocate for ethical practice through appropriate channels — dialogue first, then formal processes if needed — rather than silent compliance or unilateral action.
CPCE Professional Orientation & Ethics 5
Which landmark legal case established the duty-to-warn doctrine that significantly impacts counselor confidentiality?