Exam Preview for 2039: Ethical Boundaries in Rural Practice and Tig

Ethical Boundaries in Rural Practice and Tight-Knit Communities

Please note: exam questions are subject to change.

1. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Dual relationships in rural mental health practice are always unethical. Dual relationships in rural mental health practice are always ethical. Dual relationships in rural mental health practice are unethical if they are unavoidable. Dual relationships in rural mental health practice may be unethical if they cause significant harm to the client.
2. Which of the following is an example of an ACCIDENTAL dual relationship? A mental health practitioner provides therapy to his mother. A mental health practitioner does not realize that one of her clients was a former classmate in college. A mental health practitioner provides community development services to a remote community where he has never lived. A nonbinary mental health practitioner offers counseling services to other nonbinary individuals who know each other from a self-help group.
3. Which of the following is an example of an INTENTIONAL dual relationship? A mental health practitioner decides to work with her neighbor because she is the only mental health practitioner in the community who can provide specialized services that the neighbor needs. A mental health practitioner provides advocacy services to someone he has never met and does not know. A mental health practitioner accidentally hires a person who is a distant relative. A mental health practitioner refuses to serve a client who she previously dated.
4. Which of the following is a reasonable and ETHICALLY APPROPRIATE POLICY for a mental health provider practicing in a rural setting or small community? The mental health provider will not engage in sexual relationships with any clients or former clients. The mental health provider is strictly prohibited from going to any retail outlet or house of worship where the client goes. The mental health provider may engage in sexual relationships with multiple clients, as long as they all agree in writing. The mental health provider may require the client to maintain their friendship even if things go terribly wrong in their professional relationship.
5. Which of the following is a reasonable and ETHICALLY APPROPRIATE POLICY for a mental health provider practicing in a rural setting or small community? The mental health provider will never see or interact with clients outside of the office. The mental health provider will engage clients in discussions about how to handle situations where they meet in the community. The mental health provider will inform clients that they will be terminated immediately if they approach the provider in a public setting. The mental health provider will advise mental health providers that maintaining ethically appropriate boundaries is impossible in a rural setting or small community.
6. What is a professional netiquette policy? An ethical approach to mental health practice based on the rules of tennis. A plan for optimizing payment plans for mental health services. A set of guidelines to encourage clients to maintain appropriate boundaries with their mental health provider when using social media, videoconferencing, texting, or other online technology. A set of rules that promotes respectful in-person interactions between clients and family members.
7. Assume that you live in a small community. A potential client says she does not want to work with you, a private practitioner, because your children go to the same school as hers. Which of the following is an ethically appropriate response to the client? “I am your assigned mental health practitioner. You don’t have any other choices.” “There are no issues about having our children in the same school. Everyone in this small town already knows everyone else’s business.” “Let’s talk about other options. For instance, we can try to locate a mental health provider in another town or someone that you could meet through videoconferencing.” “If you do not cooperate, I’ll have to report you to adult protective services.”
8. You are working with a client who is also a teller at your bank, the only bank in town. Which of the following is the best example of MANAGING THIS DUAL RELATIONSHIP ethically? Assume that you cannot switch banks. You and the client agree that the client will give you good rates on loans and forgive you for any late payments. You tell the client that you will terminate him immediately if you ever have a problem with his banking services. You advise the client that you can provide therapeutic services at a reduced cost if the client provides you a line of credit at a discounted rate. You and the client agree that you may continue to receive regular banking services from him, but if there are any complicated situations due to the dual relationship, you will work with the bank manager.
9. One of your clients plays on the same community baseball team that you play on. Another player on the baseball team says he knows that you are her mental health provider and asks you what is wrong with her. Which of the following is the best response to this request? “I am her mental health provider, but I cannot tell you anything about her.” “She has had a lot of trauma in her life, so you should be extra kind to her.” “As you know, I am a mental health provider. As a mental health provider, I’m not allowed to talk about clients, or even discuss whether a certain person is or is not my client.” “You should probably mind your own business. She told me that you’re a real creep and a busybody.”
10. You are providing videoconference services to a client in a rural community about 100 miles from where you live. The client needs a home health aide. You’ve conducted research and the only home health aide available in her community is someone who lives down the street. Ethically speaking, you should advise the client: “I cannot help you because you live in a rural community where everyone knows each other.” “I have found a home health aide who lives down the street from you. Let’s talk about whether this would be an appropriate person to be your home health aide.” “I hired a home health aide for you. She’s perfect. She lives down the street from you.” “After doing a lot of research, I found out that one of your neighbors is a home health aide. I assume you already know this, but you don’t like her for some reason or another.”