Knowing Your Limits
A psychologist trained in CBT begins using EMDR without formal training. What ethical standard is violated?
What is 2.01 – Boundaries of Competence?
A psychologist helps calm victims at a car crash scene until EMTs arrive. Which APA ethical standard are they following?
What is 2.02?
What section of the Code requires psychologists to stay current in their knowledge and skills?
What is 2.03 – Maintaining Competence?
A psychologist keeps working with clients even though their own depression is hurting their job performance. According to the APA Ethics Code, what ethical standard is being violated?
What is 2.06 (working while impaired by personal problems)?
You are trained in adult therapy, but a parent asks you to evaluate their 7-year-old for ADHD. What would you do?
What is: Refer the client to a child psychologist.
What should a psychologist do before accepting a client with a problem outside their usual area of expertise?
What is: Refer the client or seek additional training or supervision?
What must a psychologist ensure before delegating work?
What is: The person has the competence to perform the task?
A therapist uses outdated DSM-III criteria for diagnosis is an example of what?
What is: Failure to maintain professional knowledge or 2.03?
Why must psychologists monitor their own well-being?
What is: To prevent impairment that could harm clients?
A tornado hits your community. A distressed family arrives at the shelter needing immediate support. You’ve never worked with trauma before. What would you do?
What is: Provide short-term emergency support within your limits, then refer or step back when qualified help becomes available?
Name two ways to gain competence in practice under the APA Code.
What are education, training, supervised experience, consultation, and/or study?
Psychologist provides therapy after a plane crash and continues seeing clients indefinitely. What APA ethical standard is being violated?
What is 2.02?
What must psychologists base their work on?
What is: Established scientific and professional knowledge? (2.04)
What steps should be taken if personal problems interfere with client care?
What is: Limit, suspend, or terminate work-related duties as needed?
Dr. Barns is experiencing depression, which sometimes affects his concentration during sessions. What would you do?
What is: Monitor the impact on professional work, seek help, and/or adjust workload or take leave if competence is impaired.
Why is it important for psychologists to recognize the limits of their competence?
What is: To protect clients from harm and ensure ethical, effective services?
What are the risks of delegating work to someone without proper supervision?
What is: Client harm and ethical violations?
Dr. Hunt ignores the need to learn about treating neurodivergent clients, even though more of them are coming to her practice. According to the APA Ethics Code, what is this an example of?
What is neglecting professional development (Standard 2.03)?
How might a psychologist recognize that their personal life is impacting their professional competence?
What is: Notice errors, decreased empathy, or feedback from colleagues?
A clinician refuses to accept clients from a specific background, citing “personal discomfort.” Is this ethical?
What is No – may reflect bias and lack of cultural competence (2.01b)?
Dr. Li works with deaf clients despite no knowledge of Deaf culture or ASL. According to APA Standard 2.01, what ethical violation does this represent?
What is a failure to respect cultural competence?
Dr. Moore gives assessment tasks to a grad student and provides supervision throughout. According to the APA Ethics Code, what is this an example of?
What is an appropriate delegation of work (2.05)?
What should a psychologist do if no established method exists for a client’s issue?
What is: Use sound professional judgment and seek consultation/supervision? (2.04)
Provide 2 examples. (1) Following the ethical standard 2.06 and (1) Violating the ethical standard of 2.06
What is......?
You help stabilize survivors after a school shooting. Weeks later, some ask for ongoing therapy. You have no training in trauma. What would you do?
What is: Refer them to a trauma-trained professional, since the emergency period has passed?