Quiz #5: Client Rights and Counselor Responsibilities

1. Informed consent generally implies that the person:
a. does not have the capacity to consent.
b. verbally gives consent.
c. has been persuaded or coerced to sign the consent form.
d. has the capacity to consent and has freely, without undue influence expressed consent.

2. ___________________ to give informed consent means that the client has the ability to make rational decisions.
a. Comprehension of information
b. Voluntariness
c. Capacity
d. Willingness

3. Written consent forms should NOT include:
a. a discussion of how a managed care system will affect the treatment, if applicable.
b. a detailed description of what will occur in therapy and a guarantee that the client will resolve their issues.
c. a statement describing the counselor’s theoretical orientation and how this will affect treatment.
d. clarification pertaining to fees and charges and procedures for filing for insurance reimbursement.

4. Henry is seeking counseling through his managed care provider. Ethically, he needs to be informed that a diagnosis:
a. can become a permanent part of his file.
b. of a severe emotional problem will exclude him from getting services.
c. is not required if he does not give his approval.
d. will in no way influence the course of his treatment.

5. Most ethical codes specify that therapists should:
a. be available to their clients even when they are on vacation.
b. inform clients that their records are inaccessible to them.
c. inform clients that a diagnosis can become a permanent part of their file and have ramifications in terms of cost of insurance, long-term insurability, and employment.
d. alter case notes that are damaging to the client if they are subpoenaed into court.

6. ___________________ should include a record of client and therapist behavior that is clinically relevant, including interventions used, client responses to treatment strategies, the evolving treatment plan, and any follow-up measures taken.
a. Assessments
b. Progress notes
c. Intakes
d. Screenings

7. Concerning counseling via the Internet, which statement is most accurate?
a. The codes of the major professional organizations offer detailed guidance regarding ethical practices in the use of technology.
b. There are both advantages and disadvantages in using Internet technology to deliver counseling services.
c. Most experts agree that what is being currently offered via Internet counseling is a form of traditional psychotherapy.
d. This form of counseling is not suited to a problem-solving approach.

8. Regarding counseling with children and adolescents, informed consent of parents or guardians may not be legally required when a minor is seeking counseling for:
a. dangerous drugs or narcotics.
b. sexually transmitted diseases.
c. pregnancy and birth control.
d. all of the above

9. Marie is a counselor who has been working with the parents of a six-year old girl. They want Marie to counsel with their daughter since the effects of their stormy marriage is negatively affecting her behavior. Marie is hesitant to do this since she has no experience working with children. The ethical codes of most professional organizations would specify that:
a. she would have to use different types of therapy to work effectively with the child.
b. it would be unethical for Marie to counsel the child if she has not been trained in that area.
c. she needs to take specialized training in parent education before working with the child.
d. Child Protective Services need to be called.

10. The social policy of de-institutionalization, as it applies to mental-health practices, involves the “least restrictive alternative” which requires that:
a. voluntary commitment be sought only after less restrictive alternatives have failed.
b. professionals commit clients who are delusional.
c. practitioners protect themselves from liability by getting a lawyer.
d. treatment be no more harsh, hazardous, or intrusive than necessary to achieve therapeutic aims and protect clients and others from physical harm

11. ________________ is the failure to render professional services or to exercise the degree of skills that is ordinarily expected of other professionals in a similar situation.
a. Professional negligence
b. Ethical incompetence
c. Malpractice
d. Malfeasance

12. Malpractice is generally limited to incidents in which the practitioner:
a. used a procedure within the realm of accepted professional practice.
b. employed a technique that he or she was not trained to use.
c. used a procedure in which the client did not respond favorably.
d. explained the possible consequences of treatment and the client still wanted to participate in the process.
13. To succeed in a malpractice claim, the plaintiff needs to show that a breach of duty did exist in which:
a. the practitioner failed to foresee a client’s intention to harm themselves even after a comprehensive risk assessment was made.
b. the client failed to get better in spite of reasonable care.
c. there was no professional relationship between therapist and client.
d. the practitioner failed to provide the appropriate standard of care.

14. _________________ have received the greatest attention in the literature as grounds for malpractice suits.
a. Violations of confidentiality and sexual misconduct
b. Client abandonment and misdiagnosis
c. Failure to obtain informed consent and practicing beyond the scope of competency
d. Client abandonment and repressed or false memory

15. Joyce was hospitalized as a result of an attempted suicide. She has tried to call her therapist before taking an overdose of pills, but he could not be reached because he was on vacation and did not provide a substitute while he was gone. This action constitutes the following type of professional negligence:
a. misdiagnosis
b. client abandonment
c. marked departure from established therapeutic practice
d. practicing beyond the scope of competency

16. Inappropriate socialization with clients, burdening clients with a counselor’s personal problems, and putting clients in awkward business situations are examples of:
a. inappropriate crisis intervention.
b. established therapeutic practices
c. mishandling of a client’s transference or counselor’s countertransference.
d. seeking balance in the counseling relationship.

17. Which of the following is NOT listed as a reason for malpractice suits?
a. failure to obtain or document informed consent
b. practicing beyond the scope of competency
c. unhealthy transference relationships
d. engaging in a bartering arrangement with a client

18. The following is a safeguard against malpractice accusations:
a. Give free sessions until the client is able to pay.
b. Never engage in bartering under any circumstances.
c. Avoid client’s perception of abandonment by not taking time off.
d. Practice in specific areas where you are competent.

19. In the event that a practitioner is sued he or she should:
a. try to resolve the matter directly with the client.
b. destroy or alter files or reports that may be incriminating.
c. discuss the case with other professionals.
d. promptly retain an attorney.

20. ______________ can best be viewed as an ongoing process aimed at increasing the range of choices and the responsibility of the client as an active therapeutic partner.
a. Diagnosis
b. Informed consent
c. Documentation
d. Case consultations