NCMHCE Professional Practice and Ethics 2

Question 1

A client discloses they are a mandated reporter but failed to report a colleague's suspected child abuse. What is the counselor's primary ethical obligation?

Accepted Answer

Immediately report the suspected abuse yourself as a mandated reporter

Answer

Counselors who become aware of suspected child abuse through a client are themselves mandated reporters and must fulfill that legal duty regardless of the client's disclosure context.

Question 2

Under the ACA Code of Ethics, when is it permissible for a counselor to engage in a nonprofessional relationship with a former client?

Accepted Answer

After 5 years if the counselor can document no harm will result

Answer

The ACA Code requires a minimum 5-year post-termination period and counselors must demonstrate no exploitation before engaging in personal relationships with former clients.

Question 3

A counselor learns their supervisee has been falsifying progress notes. The MOST appropriate first action is to:

Accepted Answer

Confront the supervisee directly and document the conversation

Answer

Supervisors must address ethical violations by supervisees directly and document the interaction before escalating to formal reporting bodies.

Question 4

Which of the following BEST describes 'vicarious trauma' as it relates to counselor self-care ethics?

Accepted Answer

Cumulative transformation of a counselor's worldview from repeated exposure to clients' traumatic material

Answer

Vicarious trauma refers to the lasting change in a counselor's cognitive schemas and worldview resulting from empathic engagement with traumatized clients.

Question 5

A client asks their counselor to write a letter supporting their disability claim. The counselor has seen the client for only two sessions. Ethically, the counselor should:

Accepted Answer

Decline because providing such documentation requires adequate clinical knowledge of the client

Answer

Providing forensic documentation requires sufficient assessment and clinical history; two sessions is generally inadequate to render a professional opinion for legal or insurance purposes.

NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Practice Test

NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Practice Test

NCMHCE Professional Practice and Ethics 2