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Ethics, Confidentiality and Boundary Issues in Professional Counseling

1. Which of the following is NOT one of The Code of Ethics main purposes?

A. To enable the association to clarify to current and future members, and to those served by members, the nature of the ethical responsibilities held in common by its members

B. To help support the mission of the association

C. To describe a specific ethical decision-making model that is most effective for counselors

D. To serve as the basis for processing of ethical complaints and inquiries initiated against members of the association


2. According to the ACA, the primary responsibility of counselors is to:

A. Encourage client growth and development in ways that foster the interest and welfare of clients and promote formation of healthy relationships

B. Respect the dignity and to promote the welfare of clients

C. Communicate information in ways that are both developmentally and culturally appropriate

D. Ensure the enhancement of human development throughout the life span


3. Informed consent is an ongoing part of the counseling process, and counselors appropriately document discussions of informed consent throughout the counseling relationship.  

A. True

B. False


4. Sexual or romantic counselor-client interactions or relationships with former clients, their romantic partners, or their family members are prohibited for a period of ____ years following the last professional contact.

A. Two

B. Three

C. Four

D. Five


5. Counselors who provide services to terminally ill individuals who are considering hastening their own deaths are required to break confidentiality in order to protect their clients.

A. True

B. False


6. Termination and referral are important components of the counseling relationship.  Each of the following is an accurate statement about these components EXCEPT:

A. Counselors do not abandon or neglect clients in counseling, and they assist in making appropriate arrangements for the continuation of treatment, when necessary, during interruptions such as vacations, illness, and following termination

B. If counselors determine an inability to be of professional assistance to clients, they should suggest clinically appropriate referral resources and suggest these alternatives, and if clients decline the suggested referral, counselors should continue the relationship until the referral process is successful

C. Counselors terminate a counseling relationship when it becomes reasonably apparent that the client no longer needs assistance, is not likely to benefit, or is being harmed by continued counseling

D. When counselors transfer or refer clients to other practitioners, they ensure that appropriate clinical and administrative processes are completed and that open communication is maintained with both clients and practitioners


7. Counselors aspire to create an ongoing partnership with their clients, to establish and uphold appropriate boundaries, and maintain confidentiality, because they recognize that ___________ is a cornerstone of the counseling relationship

A. Trust

B. Consistency

C. Respect

D. Honesty


8. The general requirement that counselors keep information confidential does not apply when disclosure is required to protect clients or identified others from serious and foreseeable harm.

A. True

B. False


9. Counselors  are required to ensure that records are kept in a secure location and that only authorized persons have access to them.  Additionally, counselors limit the access of clients to their records in order to maintain appropriate boundaries.

A. True

B. False


10. Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement about the counselor’s role when acting as a consultant?

A. Written and oral reports should present only data germane to the purposes of the consultation, and every effort is made to protect client identity and to avoid undue invasion of privacy

B. When consulting with colleagues, counselors do not disclose confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of a client with whom they have a confidential relationship, unless they have obtained the prior consent of the person or the disclosure cannot be avoided

C. They disclose information only to the extent necessary to achieve the purposes of the consultation

D. Information obtained in a consulting relationship is discussed for professional purposes only, with persons who are directly or indirectly involved with the case


11. Counselors must practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, and:

A. Supervised experience

B. State and national professional credentials

C. Appropriate professional experience

D. All of the above


12. Counselors do not engage in or condone sexual harassment, and such harassment can consist of a single intense or severe act or multiple persistent or pervasive acts.

A. True

B. False


13. Professional counselors recognize that the quality of their interactions with colleagues can influence the quality of services provided to clients.  Each of the following is an accurate statement about these relationships EXCEPT:

A. Counselors are respectful of approaches to counseling services that differ from their own and are respectful of traditions and practices of other professional groups with which they work

B. Counselors work to develop and strengthen interdisciplinary relations with colleagues from other disciplines to best serve clients

C. Counselors are prohibited from serving in more than one role in judicial or administrative proceedings, as multiple roles will likely create conflict in role expectations

D. Counselors who are members of interdisciplinary teams delivering multifaceted services to clients must focus on how to best serve the clients


14. According to the ACA, the primary purpose of educational, psychological, and career assessment is to:

A. Demonstrate an accurate measurement of personality and ability

B. Provide measurements that are valid and reliable in either comparative or absolute terms

C. Determine the areas of achievement and performance in order to assist in client productivity

D. None of the above


15. In the development, publication, and utilization of educational and psychological assessment techniques, counselors use established scientific procedures, current professional knowledge, and: 

A. Obsolete data

B. Culturally appropriate data

C. Relevant standards

D. All of the above


16. Counseling supervisors must clearly define and maintain ethical professional, personal, and social relationships with their supervisees. Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement about these relationship boundaries?

A. Counseling supervisors avoid nonprofessional relationships with current supervisees

B. They do not engage in any form of nonprofessional interaction that may compromise the supervisory relationship

C. Counseling supervisors avoid accepting close relatives, romantic partners, or friends as supervisees

D. Supervisors should never assume other professional roles such as clinical and administrative supervisor or instructor when they are acting as clinical supervisors


17. If supervisees request counseling, supervisors can provide therapeutic services themselves or can provide the supervisee with acceptable referrals

A. True

B. False


18. It is never appropriate for counselor educators to teach counseling techniques/procedures that are innovative but without an empirical foundation, or without a well-grounded theoretical foundation.

A. True

B. False


19. Which of the following is a true statement about the roles and relationships between counselor educators and students?

A. Counselor educators are aware of the power differential in the relationship between faculty and students, and must never engage in a social, sexual, or other intimate relationship with a former student

B. It is never appropriate for counselor educators to serve as counselors to current students, even as part of a training experience

C. Counselor educators engage in open discussions with students when they consider entering into relationships with students outside of their roles as teachers and supervisors

D. All of the above


20. Counselors who conduct research are encouraged to contribute to the knowledge base of the profession and promote a clearer understanding of the conditions that lead to a healthy and more just society.

A. True

B. False


21. The ACA Code of Ethics recommends that independent researchers be aware of procedures of ____________________________ in order to provide appropriate safeguards.

A. An Institutional Review Board

B. A Professional Research Consulting Firm

C. A Quality Improvement Panel

D. A Clinical Advisory Committee


22. Individuals have the right to consent to become research participants. Which of the following is NOT a true statement about the research process?

A. Researchers should offer to answer any inquiries concerning the procedures and describe any limitations on confidentiality

B. Counselors do not conduct research involving deception unless alternative procedures are not feasible and the prospective value of the research justifies the deception

C. Counselors conducting research involving clients make clear in the informed consent process that clients are free to choose whether or not to participate in research activities

D. Researchers should not involve students or supervisees in research because of the risk of affecting the student’s academic standing


23. Counselors have an obligation to report the results of any research of professional value, and results that reflect unfavorably on institutions, programs, services, prevailing opinions, or vested interests may not be withheld.

A. True

B. False


24. When counselors have reason to believe that another counselor is violating or has violated an ethical standard, it is most appropriate to:

A. Consult with colleagues or authorities to determine the appropriate action

B. Report the violation to the state licensing board and follow their direction regarding the situation

C. Attempt first to resolve the issue informally with the other counselor if feasible, provided such action does not violate confidentiality rights that may be involved

D. None of the above


25. If the demands of an organization with which counselors are affiliated pose a conflict with the ACA Code of Ethics, counselors specify the nature of such conflicts and work toward change within the organization.

A. True

B. False


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