LPCC Professional Ethics and Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client discloses during a session that they plan to harm a specific, identifiable third party. Under the Tarasoff duty, the counselor is MOST obligated to:
- Maintain confidentiality and document the threat only
- Warn the identifiable potential victim and notify law enforcement (Correct answer)
- Terminate the therapeutic relationship immediately
- Consult with a supervisor before taking any action
Correct answer: Warn the identifiable potential victim and notify law enforcement
The Tarasoff ruling established a duty to protect identifiable third parties, which typically requires warning the potential victim and notifying authorities.
Question 2: Which ACA Code of Ethics section primarily addresses the counselor's obligation to avoid imposing personal values on clients?
- Section A (The Counseling Relationship) (Correct answer)
- Section B (Confidentiality)
- Section C (Professional Responsibility)
- Section E (Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation)
Correct answer: Section A (The Counseling Relationship)
Section A of the ACA Code addresses the counseling relationship, including the counselor's responsibility to respect client autonomy and not impose personal values.
Question 3: A counselor receives a subpoena for a client's records. The MOST appropriate first step is to:
- Immediately comply and release all records
- Notify the client and seek legal consultation before releasing records (Correct answer)
- Destroy records to protect the client's privacy
- Release only a summary of records
Correct answer: Notify the client and seek legal consultation before releasing records
A subpoena does not automatically override confidentiality; the counselor should notify the client and consult legal counsel to determine the appropriate response.
Question 4: When a counselor recognizes they are experiencing countertransference that may impair objectivity, the BEST ethical action is to:
- Continue sessions and monitor feelings internally
- Seek personal supervision or consultation (Correct answer)
- Immediately refer the client to another counselor
- Disclose countertransference feelings directly to the client
Correct answer: Seek personal supervision or consultation
Seeking supervision or consultation allows the counselor to address countertransference while protecting the client's welfare and maintaining the therapeutic relationship.
Question 5: Under HIPAA, a 'minimum necessary' standard means counselors should:
- Share only the minimum amount of PHI required for the intended purpose (Correct answer)
- Never share any client information under any circumstance
- Share complete records whenever any portion is requested
- Allow clients to determine what information is shared
Correct answer: Share only the minimum amount of PHI required for the intended purpose
The HIPAA minimum necessary standard requires limiting PHI disclosures to only what is needed to accomplish the intended purpose.
Question 6: A counselor who works with a client and later hires that former client as an office assistant is engaging in:
- A permissible employment relationship
- An exploitative dual relationship (Correct answer)
- A boundary crossing that may be appropriate
- A violation only if sexual in nature
Correct answer: An exploitative dual relationship
Employing a former client creates a power imbalance and exploits the prior therapeutic relationship, constituting an exploitative dual relationship.
Question 7: Informed consent in counseling MUST include which of the following?
- The counselor's theoretical orientation preferences only
- The limits of confidentiality, fees, and the client's right to withdraw (Correct answer)
- A guarantee of positive therapeutic outcomes
- The names of other clients in group therapy
Correct answer: The limits of confidentiality, fees, and the client's right to withdraw
Informed consent must include information about confidentiality limits, fees, rights to withdraw, and the nature of services to allow clients to make autonomous decisions.
LPCC Professional Ethics and Standards 2
A client discloses during a session that they plan to harm a specific, identifiable third party.
Under the Tarasoff duty, the counselor is MOST obligated to: