OLERE OLERE - Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Crisis Intervention and Duty to Protect 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Oklahoma law, when a licensed counselor has reasonable cause to believe a client poses an imminent credible threat to an identifiable third party, what is the counselor's primary legal duty?
- Maintain strict confidentiality without exception
- Warn the potential victim and/or notify law enforcement (Correct answer)
- Consult only with a supervisor and take no independent action
- Document the threat and wait until the next scheduled session
Correct answer: Warn the potential victim and/or notify law enforcement
Oklahoma's duty-to-protect statute requires counselors to take reasonable steps, including warning identifiable potential victims and notifying law enforcement, when a client poses a credible imminent threat.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes the scope of Oklahoma's duty-to-protect obligation for LPCs?
- It applies only to threats involving firearms
- It is triggered by any expression of anger toward another person
- It applies when a client makes a serious, credible threat against an identifiable person (Correct answer)
- It requires counselors to hospitalize every client who mentions conflict with others
Correct answer: It applies when a client makes a serious, credible threat against an identifiable person
The duty to protect is triggered by serious, credible threats against an identifiable victim — not by every expression of anger or frustration.
Question 3: A proper suicide risk assessment by an Oklahoma LPC should include which of the following components?
- A no-suicide contract as the sole required intervention
- Assessment of plan, means, intent, history, and protective factors (Correct answer)
- Immediate hospitalization for any client who acknowledges past suicidal ideation
- Referral to a psychiatrist before any clinical decision is made
Correct answer: Assessment of plan, means, intent, history, and protective factors
A comprehensive suicide risk assessment evaluates plan specificity, access to means, intent, prior attempts, and protective factors to determine appropriate level of care.
Question 4: When an Oklahoma LPC determines a client requires emergency hospitalization during a session, what is the counselor's ethical obligation?
- Discharge the client immediately and close the case
- Document the crisis assessment, the rationale, and all referral and follow-up steps taken (Correct answer)
- Notify the client's employer as the primary action
- Transfer all clinical records to the hospital without client consent
Correct answer: Document the crisis assessment, the rationale, and all referral and follow-up steps taken
Thorough documentation of the crisis assessment, decision-making rationale, and referral steps is an essential ethical and legal obligation for Oklahoma LPCs.
Question 5: Under Oklahoma statute, a counselor may breach confidentiality to prevent harm when:
- A client has been diagnosed with any anxiety disorder
- There is a credible risk of imminent serious harm to self or others (Correct answer)
- A third party requests clinical information about the client
- The client has missed three or more consecutive appointments
Correct answer: There is a credible risk of imminent serious harm to self or others
Oklahoma law permits a confidentiality breach to prevent imminent serious harm, which is a recognized exception to the general rule of confidentiality.
Question 6: A safety plan developed for a suicidal client in Oklahoma clinical practice should include which of the following elements?
- Only the counselor's office phone number
- Warning signs, coping strategies, support contacts, and emergency crisis resources (Correct answer)
- A legal liability waiver signed by the client
- Board-approved language reviewed before each use
Correct answer: Warning signs, coping strategies, support contacts, and emergency crisis resources
Effective safety plans include personalized warning signs, coping strategies, social supports, and clear emergency resources such as crisis lines and emergency services.
OLERE OLERE - Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Crisis Intervention and Duty to Protect 1
Under Oklahoma law, when a licensed counselor has reasonable cause to believe a client poses an imminent credible threat to an identifiable third party, what is the counselor's primary legal duty?