NBCC Professional Orientation, Ethics & Legal Issues 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California ruling established that counselors have a duty to:
- Maintain strict confidentiality in all circumstances
- Warn or protect identifiable third parties from serious threats made by clients (Correct answer)
- Report all client disclosures to law enforcement
- Prioritize the client's welfare over all other considerations
Correct answer: Warn or protect identifiable third parties from serious threats made by clients
The Tarasoff ruling created the 'duty to warn/protect,' requiring counselors to take reasonable steps to protect identifiable third parties from credible threats.
Question 2: Which credentialing body is specifically responsible for the NCC (National Certified Counselor) credential?
- ACA (American Counseling Association)
- NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors) (Correct answer)
- CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs)
- AMHCA (American Mental Health Counselors Association)
Correct answer: NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors)
NBCC is the credentialing body that awards the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential.
Question 3: A counselor is subpoenaed to testify about a client's records in a custody case. The client has not provided consent. The counselor should:
- Provide all records immediately to comply with the subpoena
- Consult with an attorney and assert privilege on the client's behalf until ordered by a judge (Correct answer)
- Destroy the records to protect the client
- Refuse all contact with the court system
Correct answer: Consult with an attorney and assert privilege on the client's behalf until ordered by a judge
A subpoena alone does not require disclosure; the counselor should consult legal counsel and assert privilege until a court order is issued.
Question 4: The concept of 'autonomy' in counseling ethics primarily supports:
- The counselor's right to set the agenda for sessions
- The client's right to make their own decisions (Correct answer)
- The organization's right to dictate treatment
- The counselor's independence from supervision
Correct answer: The client's right to make their own decisions
Autonomy as an ethical principle upholds the client's right to self-determination and to make their own informed choices.
Question 5: Which CACREP standard directly affects the content taught in counselor education programs?
- It sets licensing fees for individual counselors
- It establishes curriculum and training standards for accredited programs (Correct answer)
- It governs how counselors advertise their services
- It determines which clients qualify for counseling services
Correct answer: It establishes curriculum and training standards for accredited programs
CACREP accreditation standards specify the required curriculum, clinical training hours, and core areas that counselor education programs must cover.
Question 6: A counselor working in a community agency is asked by administration to provide client names for a grant report. The ethically appropriate response is to:
- Provide all names as directed by the employer
- Provide aggregate data only unless clients have consented to disclosure (Correct answer)
- Refuse all reporting to protect client confidentiality
- Ask clients to sign blanket consent forms upon intake for any future reporting
Correct answer: Provide aggregate data only unless clients have consented to disclosure
Counselors should share only de-identified aggregate data for reporting purposes unless clients have given specific informed consent for disclosure.
Question 7: A counselor who charges fees based on a client's ability to pay is practicing which ethical principle?
- Autonomy
- Justice (Correct answer)
- Fidelity
- Beneficence
Correct answer: Justice
Justice requires equitable treatment and fair access to services, which sliding-scale fees help ensure for clients with limited resources.
NBCC Professional Orientation, Ethics & Legal Issues 3
The Tarasoff v.
Regents of the University of California ruling established that counselors have a duty to: