Professional Ethics and Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real LPCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Ethics and Standards flashcards as text
The ethical principle of autonomy in counseling is BEST demonstrated when a counselor:
Answer: Supports the client's right to make decisions about their own life
Autonomy means respecting clients' rights to self-determination and supporting their capacity to make their own informed decisions.
A counselor in private practice closes their practice due to retirement. Ethically, the counselor MUST:
Answer: Provide clients with adequate notice and referrals, and ensure records are maintained per legal standards
Ethical practice closure requires adequate notice, assistance with transitions and referrals, and proper record retention per state and federal requirements.
Which documentation practice BEST protects a counselor from ethical and legal liability?
Answer: Maintaining thorough, timely, and objective clinical notes
Thorough, objective, and timely clinical notes provide the strongest protection by accurately reflecting the counselor's clinical reasoning and client progress.
A mandated reporter counselor sees a client who mentions a child in their home has unexplained bruising. The counselor's ethical and legal obligation is to:
Answer: File a report with child protective services based on reasonable suspicion alone
Mandatory reporting laws require counselors to report suspected child abuse based on reasonable suspicion, not confirmed evidence; waiting is not ethically or legally permissible.
A counselor is asked to testify as a fact witness rather than an expert witness in a legal proceeding. This means the counselor:
Answer: Can only testify about their direct observations and clinical actions
A fact witness may only testify about what they directly observed or did, unlike an expert witness who may offer professional opinions and interpretations.
When a counselor disagrees with a supervisor's clinical or ethical decision, the MOST appropriate action is to:
Answer: Document the disagreement and pursue resolution through appropriate channels, including consultation
Counselors should document disagreements and seek resolution through proper channels such as consultation or escalation, rather than unilaterally acting or remaining silent.
Which of the following BEST illustrates the ethical concept of veracity in counseling?
Answer: Honestly disclosing the limitations of a particular treatment approach to a client
Veracity refers to truthfulness and honesty; counselors practicing veracity are transparent with clients about treatment limitations and uncertainties.