EMDR Ethical & Legal Considerations 2

Question 1

A client discloses during EMDR processing that they recently harmed a child. What is the therapist's primary legal obligation?

Accepted Answer

File a mandatory child abuse report immediately

Answer

Mandatory reporting laws require therapists to report suspected child abuse regardless of therapeutic context or confidentiality agreements.

Question 2

Which ethical principle is most directly at stake when a therapist uses EMDR with a client who has not been informed that bilateral stimulation is experimental for their specific diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent

Answer

Informed consent requires that clients understand the nature, rationale, and evidence base of any treatment being offered, including EMDR's status for their condition.

Question 3

An EMDR therapist is treating a client who is also seeing a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist requests a progress update. What should the therapist do first?

Accepted Answer

Obtain written authorization from the client before sharing any information

Answer

HIPAA and ethical standards require written client authorization before disclosing protected health information to any third party, including other treating clinicians.

Question 4

A therapist trained in EMDR begins using it with a client who has an active psychotic disorder. Which ethical principle is most violated?

Accepted Answer

Competence

Answer

Applying EMDR to active psychosis without specialized training or evidence of efficacy violates the ethical obligation to practice within one's competence.

Question 5

During EMDR reprocessing, a client suddenly recalls what appears to be a repressed memory of abuse. How should the therapist handle this ethically?

Accepted Answer

Avoid any suggestion about the memory's accuracy and continue standard processing

Answer

Therapists must avoid suggestion or validation of recovered memories' accuracy, as memory reconstruction is fallible and confirmation can cause harm.

(EMDR) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Practice Test

(EMDR) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Practice Test

EMDR Ethical & Legal Considerations 2