Professional Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real MFT 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 flashcards as text
An MFT is subpoenaed to testify about a client's treatment. The most appropriate initial action is to:
Answer: Consult with an attorney and notify the client before releasing information
A subpoena does not automatically waive privilege; the therapist should consult an attorney and notify the client to allow them to assert privilege.
In telehealth MFT practice, which ethical issue is uniquely heightened compared to in-person therapy?
Answer: Verifying client identity and ensuring platform security and confidentiality
Telehealth introduces unique challenges around verifying client identity, ensuring secure communication platforms, and addressing cross-jurisdictional licensing issues.
A client in group therapy discloses a secret shared by another group member outside the group. The therapist's responsibility is to:
Answer: Address confidentiality expectations with the entire group
While therapists cannot legally guarantee confidentiality among group members, they are responsible for establishing clear norms and addressing breaches therapeutically.
The concept of 'beneficence' in MFT ethics requires the therapist to:
Answer: Actively promote the client's well-being
Beneficence means actively contributing to the client's welfare, going beyond simply avoiding harm (nonmaleficence).
When an MFT is treating a couple and one partner confides suicidal ideation in an individual session, the therapist must first:
Answer: Assess the immediacy and lethality of the risk before determining next steps
Thorough risk assessment of the suicidal client's safety is always the first clinical and ethical priority.
An MFT receives a request from a managed care company for a client's entire treatment file. Ethically, the therapist should:
Answer: Release only the minimum necessary information required for the purpose
The HIPAA 'minimum necessary' standard requires releasing only the information needed for the specific purpose, even to insurance companies.
A client experiencing a manic episode insists on making major financial decisions and refuses further therapy. The therapist should:
Answer: Document concerns, provide crisis resources, and consider whether the client poses danger to themselves
Respecting autonomy must be balanced with duty of care; the therapist should document clinical concerns, offer resources, and assess for safety.