Professional Standards & Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real SAC 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 Standards & Ethics flashcards as text
A student discloses that they have been using marijuana on weekends but insists it is not affecting their school performance. What is the SAC's most appropriate initial response?
Answer: Conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine the extent and impact of use
A comprehensive assessment is the ethical first step before making referrals or taking action, as it establishes the scope and severity of the issue.
Which principle best describes the SAC's obligation to act in the student's best interest, even when the student's choices may be harmful?
Answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the ethical principle that requires professionals to act in ways that promote the well-being of the client.
An SAC discovers that a colleague is providing counseling services outside their scope of competence. The MOST ethical course of action is to:
Answer: Address the concern with the colleague first, then escalate if necessary
Professional ethics generally require addressing concerns with the colleague first before escalating through formal channels.
A parent requests that the SAC share detailed session notes about their minor child's counseling. The SAC should:
Answer: Balance parental rights with the student's developmental need for confidentiality
SACs must navigate the tension between parental rights and the therapeutic need for adolescent privacy on a case-by-case basis.
Which of the following best defines 'dual relationship' in the context of SAC ethics?
Answer: Holding both a counseling and a disciplinary role with the same student
A dual relationship occurs when a counselor holds more than one type of professional role with the same client, which can impair objectivity.
Informed consent in student assistance counseling primarily means:
Answer: Students and families understand the nature, limits, and risks of services before agreeing to participate
Informed consent requires that participants understand what services entail, including confidentiality limits, before agreeing to participate.
A student tells the SAC they have a plan to seriously hurt a classmate. Under the duty to protect, the SAC MUST:
Answer: Warn the identified potential victim and notify appropriate authorities
The Tarasoff duty to protect requires that identifiable potential victims and appropriate authorities be warned when there is a credible, specific threat.