Family Matters
Clue: In family counseling, the counselor typically views this as the client, although the law recognizes each member's individual rights.
What is the family?
Before admitting individuals into a counseling group, counselors should conduct this process to determine whether the group is appropriate for them.
What is screening?
When a counselor recognizes that a client's needs exceed their professional competence, this action may be necessary.
What is making an appropriate referral?
This type of insurance protects counselors financially against certain claims involving professional negligence.
What is professional liability insurance?
This professional code provides ethical guidance for counselors and is referenced throughout both chapters.
What is the ACA Code of Ethics?
This ethical process becomes more complicated when family members disagree about participating in counseling.
What is informed consent?
Although counselors can protect confidential information themselves, they cannot guarantee this behavior from other group members.
What is maintaining confidentiality?
Counselors communicate with other mental health professionals to coordinate client care, share expertise, and provide this type of professional support.
What is collaboration or consultation?
This fee structure allows clients with fewer financial resources to pay less for counseling services.
What is a sliding-scale fee?
This is the first step in the ACA Practitioner's Guide to Ethical Decision Making.
What is identifying the problem?
A spouse privately tells the counselor about an affair and asks that it never be shared with their partner. This creates an ethical dilemma involving what?
What are family secrets and confidentiality?
A group member feels uncomfortable sharing personal experiences because their cultural background discourages discussing private matters publicly. What should the counselor avoid?
What is imposing personal or group values on the member?
A counselor wants to transfer a client's counseling records to another provider. What should the counselor obtain first?
What is written client authorization?
A counselor opens a private practice but fails to plan for rent, taxes, inconsistent income, and other expenses. What important professional role has the counselor overlooked?
What is being a business owner and managing the financial responsibilities of private practice?
A counselor is uncertain about how to handle an ethical dilemma and consults an experienced colleague before deciding what to do. What professional practice is being demonstrated?
What is ethical consultation?
Two parents are arguing about child custody and ask their family counselor to decide who should have custody. What should the counselor do?
What is decline to make the custody decision and refer the dispute to appropriate legal authorities?
During a counseling group, two members develop a close friendship outside the group, creating tension during sessions. What ethical concern should the counselor address?
What are relationship boundaries and socializing among members?
A supervisor consistently gives preferred employees better opportunities while treating others unfairly. What ethical responsibility is the supervisor neglecting?
What is fairness and avoiding favoritism?
An insurance company denies additional counseling sessions even though the counselor believes treatment remains necessary. What should guide the counselor's next steps?
What are client welfare, appropriate treatment planning, and consideration of available options for continued care?
After identifying an ethical dilemma and reviewing applicable standards, a counselor develops several possible responses and examines the likely outcomes. What two steps of ethical decision-making are demonstrated?
What are generating potential courses of action and considering their consequences?
During family counseling, an intervention benefits the family overall but appears harmful to one individual member. What ethical responsibility must guide the counselor?
What is protecting individual client welfare and minimizing potential harm?
A counselor forms a trauma-processing group without adequate training or consideration of members' readiness. Identify TWO ethical concerns.
What are counselor competence and appropriate screening or protection from harm?
An employer directs a counselor to engage in a practice the counselor believes is unethical. What should the counselor do rather than simply follow the instruction?
What is identify the ethical conflict, consult applicable standards, seek consultation, and pursue an appropriate resolution?
A counselor intentionally assigns an inaccurate diagnosis to obtain insurance reimbursement. What serious ethical and legal concern does this represent?
What is insurance fraud?
A counselor selects an ethical course of action but never follows through. What final step of the ethical decision-making model has been neglected?
What is implementing the selected course of action?