LPCC Professional Ethics and Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A counselor practicing telehealth must FIRST ensure that:
- The client owns a smartphone or computer
- They are licensed in the state where the client is physically located (Correct answer)
- All sessions are recorded for supervision purposes
- The client's insurance covers telehealth services
Correct answer: They are licensed in the state where the client is physically located
Licensure laws are jurisdiction-based; counselors must hold licensure (or an appropriate exemption) in the state where the client is physically present during telehealth sessions.
Question 2: Which ethical principle refers to the counselor's commitment to do good and promote the client's well-being?
- Nonmaleficence
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Fidelity
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the ethical principle requiring counselors to act in ways that actively promote client welfare and positive outcomes.
Question 3: A counselor suspects a colleague is practicing while impaired by substance use. The MOST ethical action is to:
- Report the colleague to authorities without attempting any other action
- Ignore it unless a client files a formal complaint
- First attempt to address the issue with the colleague directly and then pursue reporting if needed (Correct answer)
- Document observations privately but take no action
Correct answer: First attempt to address the issue with the colleague directly and then pursue reporting if needed
ACA ethics encourage counselors to first attempt to address colleague impairment directly and, if unresolved, to pursue formal reporting to protect clients.
Question 4: The ethical concept of fidelity in counseling means:
- Maintaining accurate billing records
- Honoring commitments and being trustworthy in the therapeutic relationship (Correct answer)
- Treating all clients equally regardless of background
- Refraining from sexual contact with clients
Correct answer: Honoring commitments and being trustworthy in the therapeutic relationship
Fidelity refers to the counselor's obligation to be honest, keep promises, and fulfill commitments made to clients.
Question 5: When providing counseling services in a school setting, a counselor working with a minor must typically obtain informed consent from:
- The minor only, if age 12 or older
- The school principal and the teacher
- A parent or legal guardian, with assent from the minor when appropriate (Correct answer)
- Only the minor if they are the identified client
Correct answer: A parent or legal guardian, with assent from the minor when appropriate
Minors generally cannot legally provide informed consent; a parent or guardian must consent while the minor's assent is ethically obtained as well.
Question 6: A counselor's license is MOST at risk of disciplinary action for which of the following social media activities?
- Having a professional LinkedIn profile
- Posting about a client case in a 'disguised' form on a public blog (Correct answer)
- Following a professional organization's account
- Joining an online counselor peer support group
Correct answer: Posting about a client case in a 'disguised' form on a public blog
Even disguised client information shared publicly can violate confidentiality if the client or others could reasonably identify the individual.
Question 7: Under the ACA Code of Ethics, a counselor educator who enters into a romantic relationship with a current student is:
- Permitted if the student is over 18
- Prohibited due to inherent power differential (Correct answer)
- Permitted if the student is not in the educator's direct class
- Allowed at the discretion of the institution
Correct answer: Prohibited due to inherent power differential
The ACA Code prohibits sexual or romantic relationships with current students due to the inherent power differential and potential for exploitation.
LPCC Professional Ethics and Standards 3
A counselor practicing telehealth must FIRST ensure that: