Exam Preview for 2456: The Ethics of Fidelity in Mental Health Prac

The Ethics of Fidelity in Mental Health Practice: Living Up to Our Primary Duty to Clients

Please note: exam questions are subject to change.

1. The concept of “fidelity” in mental health practice refers to: being consistent, honest, and dependable prioritizing the interests of one’s employer over one’s clients prioritizing the interests of society over one’s clients staying neutral when clients threaten to cause harm.
2. Why is it important for mental health professionals to follow through on commitments to clients? to ensure that clients do not become too dependent on their mental health professionals to maximize fees and profits to maintain trust with clients and to ensure they feel safe and supported to maintain appropriate documentation which may be used to defend against malpractice lawsuits
3. To whom do mental health professionals owe an ethical duty of care? To their family and friends To their clients, employers, profession, and society To their personal doctors, accountants, and attorneys To their own life coaches
4. When mental health professionals are working with a family as their client system, they should prioritize the welfare of: the person paying for the services the oldest person in the family the adults in the family the family as a whole
5. When a therapeutic group has members with conflicting interests, the facilitator should: prioritize the interests of the majority prioritize thew interests of the minority discuss the conflict with the whole group and try to build consensus on how to proceed terminate work with the group immediately without explaining the reason for terminating (to avoid conflicts of interest)
6. When an employer asks a mental health professional to do something that is not in their client’s best interests, the mental health professional should: simply follow the employer’s request, even if the client suffers harm ignore the employer’s request and do whatever the mental health professional personally feels is best lie to the client speak with the employer about the professional’s duties to the client and how the request conflicts with those duties.
7. Sharona, a clinical social worker, has a client who says he hates Sharona’s coworker and is thinking about slashing her car tires. Ethically, what is the FIRST step that Sharona take in response to this disclosure? report the client to law enforcement initiate involuntary committal of the client to a mental health facility assess client’s motivation and the seriousness of the threat to help determine the next steps immediately inform the coworker about the threat to her car
8. Mandy is a mental health counselor who works at a clinic that is mandated to provide short-term counseling, with a maximum of 6 sessions. One of her clients is still experiencing mental distress after 6 sessions and Mandy believes the client needs at least 2 additional sessions. Ethically, Mandy should: terminate work with the client immediately to comply with agency policy advocate with the employer for an exception to policy to extend services by two sessions pay out-of-pocket for the client to see another mental health counselor for online psychotherapy continue to see the client for services but avoid telling the employer so as not to get into trouble
9. Javier is a psychologist providing therapy to a 15-year-old named Chance. Chance informs Javier that she is experiencing a lot of anxiety because she thinks she is lesbian and is afraid to tell her parents. At the outset of counseling, Chance and her parents had agreed that the parents would have access to important information about Chance’s mental health, including access to Javier’s case notes. Chance tells Javier not to document anything about her thoughts about being lesbian. Ethically, Javier should: refuse to help Chance any further unless she informs her parents about her sexuality document Chance’s anxiety about coming out to her parents and tell Chance that she has nothing to worry about inform the parents immediately about Chance’s struggles with her sexuality engage Chance in a discussion about how it may be helpful to share concerns about her sexuality with her parents, striving to honor Chance’s request while also focusing on Chance’s wellbeing and her parents’ concerns
10. Rennie is a family counselor who has been working with a couple, Jan and Will, for 8 months. Jan texts Rennie to advise that she won’t be returning for counseling because she is planning to move out of the country with her 2-year-old child. She says that Will is very upset so he may need individual therapy. Ethically, Rennie should: offer to have a joint session with Jan and Will, but let them know that if either of them need individual therapy, she will need to refer them to another counselor or therapist call law enforcement to report that Jan is abandoning Will provide individual therapy to Will pretend she never received the text message