RP Professional Ethics and Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A former client contacts a psychotherapist two years after termination requesting a social relationship. According to most ethical codes, what applies?
- The prohibition on dual relationships ends automatically at termination
- Sexual relationships are permitted after two years post-termination in all jurisdictions
- Post-termination sexual relationships remain prohibited or require careful multi-factor ethical evaluation (Correct answer)
- Social but not romantic relationships are always permitted after termination
Correct answer: Post-termination sexual relationships remain prohibited or require careful multi-factor ethical evaluation
Most ethics codes prohibit or strongly caution against sexual relationships with former clients, requiring evaluation of transference, time elapsed, nature of treatment, and potential harm.
Question 2: What is the ethical obligation of a psychotherapist when they discover they lack competence to treat a presenting problem mid-treatment?
- Continue treatment to avoid disrupting the client's progress
- Consult, seek supervision, obtain additional training, or refer the client appropriately (Correct answer)
- Inform the client that therapy must end immediately without a referral
- Transfer the client's file without explaining the reason
Correct answer: Consult, seek supervision, obtain additional training, or refer the client appropriately
Ethical practice requires therapists to recognize limits of competence and respond by consulting, obtaining training, or providing a timely, appropriate referral.
Question 3: A psychotherapist is treating two close friends separately. This arrangement represents which ethical concern?
- Role conflict and potential dual relationship complications (Correct answer)
- A violation of HIPAA privacy rules
- Misuse of therapeutic techniques
- Breach of the duty to warn
Correct answer: Role conflict and potential dual relationship complications
Treating individuals who have a close relationship to each other creates role conflict and risks compromising neutrality, confidentiality, and the therapeutic relationship.
Question 4: Which best describes the 'duty to warn' established in Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California?
- Therapists must warn all clients about the risks of therapy
- Therapists have a duty to protect identifiable potential victims from credible client threats (Correct answer)
- Therapists must warn employers when clients miss work
- Therapists must notify police of all suicidal ideation
Correct answer: Therapists have a duty to protect identifiable potential victims from credible client threats
Tarasoff established that therapists have a legal and ethical duty to take reasonable steps to protect identifiable third parties when a client poses a credible serious threat.
Question 5: A client in group therapy shares information that another group member finds distressing. What is the therapist's ethical priority?
- Remove the distressed member from the group immediately
- Ignore the situation to preserve group dynamics
- Facilitate discussion, uphold group confidentiality norms, and ensure all members' welfare (Correct answer)
- Disclose the distressed member's reaction to the entire group
Correct answer: Facilitate discussion, uphold group confidentiality norms, and ensure all members' welfare
Group therapists must manage interpersonal dynamics, reinforce confidentiality agreements, and prioritize all members' psychological safety simultaneously.
Question 6: What is a psychotherapist's ethical responsibility regarding social media and online presence related to clients?
- Freely connect with clients on social platforms to improve the therapeutic alliance
- Avoid searching for client information online without clinical justification and discuss policies proactively (Correct answer)
- Post client progress updates to demonstrate effectiveness
- Require clients to follow the therapist's professional social accounts
Correct answer: Avoid searching for client information online without clinical justification and discuss policies proactively
Ethical guidelines caution against online searches for client information without justification and recommend establishing and disclosing a social media policy in informed consent.
Question 7: A psychotherapist receives a gift from a grateful client at the conclusion of therapy. What is the most ethically sound response?
- Always refuse any gift to maintain clear boundaries
- Accept any gift without discussion to validate the therapeutic relationship
- Evaluate the gift's nature, value, and cultural context before deciding and discuss the meaning therapeutically (Correct answer)
- Donate the gift to charity and inform the client
Correct answer: Evaluate the gift's nature, value, and cultural context before deciding and discuss the meaning therapeutically
Ethics codes advise therapists to consider cultural context, the therapeutic meaning, and the potential impact on boundaries rather than applying a blanket acceptance or refusal rule.
RP Professional Ethics and Standards 3
A former client contacts a psychotherapist two years after termination requesting a social relationship.
According to most ethical codes, what applies?