ETHICAL INVENTORY
1.
A counselor’s primary responsibility:
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
Counselors working with clients who have backgrounds different from their own:
a.
b.
c.
d.
3.
expect complete confidentiality
have information about their treatment explained to them
refuse recommended services
expect a guarantee that counseling will be effective
Counselors who meet their personal needs through their clients are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
6.
except for clients who are unable to give their own consent
except for minors
except for mandated clients
for all clients
Informed consent implies that clients have a right to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
5.
are likely to refer due to value conflicts
respect basic differences
do all they can to gain knowledge about client background
attempt to influence client to adjust to dominant social values
It is ethically imperative to secure client’s informed consent:
a.
b.
c.
d.
4.
avoid lawsuits
enlist family involvement to help client reach counseling goals
promote societal values
respect and promote client integrity and welfare
behaving ethically as long as they do not harm the client
behaving unethically
not altruistically motivated
likely to exploit the clients for personal gain
With respect to personal values of counselors, it is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
sometimes necessary for counselors to impose values on clients
essential that counselors understand how their values influence the counseling
process
good policy to only accept clients with similar values
important that counselors realize how their values and beliefs apply in a diverse
society
SE/ad – Adapted by Brighter Tomorrows Consulting, LLC, from ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Fifth Edition, Edited by
Barbara Herlihy and Gerald Corey, published by the American Counseling Association, 2006
7.
Dual relationships with clients/supervisors/students are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
8.
Sexual intimacies with clients:
a.
b.
c.
d.
9.
c.
d.
consider financial status of clients in local area
decide on a price and stick to it
refer clients who cannot pay for services
engage in bartering with clients who cannot pay for services
If counselors determine that they cannot offer professional assistance to a client:
a.
b.
c.
d.
12.
conduct screening interviews with potential group members
protect clients from physical/psychological trauma resulting from group
interaction
provide follow-up after termination
develop safety measures when using experimental methods
In establishing fees for service, counselors:
a.
b.
c.
d.
11.
are unethical
are never justified
may be justified if the client initiates the relationship
represent serious exploitation of client trust
Counselors offering group counseling have ethical obligations to:
a.
b.
10.
best avoided whenever possible
fraught with possibilities for exploitation and are unethical
generally unethical, illegal, and unprofessional
best decided in each situation, balancing risks and benefits
terminate the relationship
refer the client
discuss the situation with the client
continue to see the client
Counseling services are terminated when:
a.
b.
c.
d.
a client is no longer benefitting from services
counseling is no longer necessary
counseling no longer serves client’s needs/interests
clients do not pay up
SE/ad – Adapted by Brighter Tomorrows Consulting, LLC, from ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Fifth Edition, Edited by
Barbara Herlihy and Gerald Corey, published by the American Counseling Association, 2006
13.
Counselors adhere to the principle of privacy by:
a.
b.
c.
d.
14.
Ethical case management (recordkeeping) means:
a.
b.
c.
d.
15.
seek assistance for his/her own problems
limit, suspend, terminate relationships with clients
engage in self-disclosure with clients
consult with other professionals
In recruiting clients, counselors should know:
a.
b.
c.
d.
18.
develop area of specialization
take steps to maintain competence in licensure/certification areas
consult with other professionals about ethical/professional practice
practice strictly within the scope of education/training
When counselors’ personal problems are likely to lead to client harm, counselors
should:
a.
b.
c.
d.
17.
no ethical obligation to maintain records
maintain records to provide continuity of care/coordination of services
legally/ethically required for ten years
require written releases of information prior to transference to third parties
Practicing within boundaries of competence means:
a.
b.
c.
d.
16.
avoiding disclosure of confidential information
decide when to waive a client’s right to privacy
consult with other counselors prior to disclosure in legal situations
secure written releases of information prior to disclosure
it is acceptable to split fees for referral services
they have an ethical right to expect referral fees
do not accept referral fees
to sue if they do not get referral fees
Counselors do not discriminate against clients based on:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
age/disability
sexual orientation
gender
religion
race/ethinicity/culture
SE/ad – Adapted by Brighter Tomorrows Consulting, LLC, from ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Fifth Edition, Edited by
Barbara Herlihy and Gerald Corey, published by the American Counseling Association, 2006
19.
Dual relationship are unethical because counselors:
a.
b.
c.
d.
20.
Counselor educators have responsibility to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
21.
there will be no harmful effects on research participants
it is essential to the research project
the participants are paid for services
the researcher is studying involuntary participation outcomes
Reporting of research results requires:
a.
b.
c.
d.
24.
be sensitive to diversity issues / special populations
use deception only when it is a good research project
seek consultation / develop safeguards for clients
obtain informed consent prior to the study
Involuntary participation is appropriate when:
a.
b.
c.
d.
23.
present varied theoretical positions
teach one theory to minimize confusion
insist that students master the counselor’s theoretical orientation
provide information about professional bases of practice
Regarding research conducted with human participants, counselors must:
a.
b.
c.
d.
22.
serve as role models for professional behaviors
are aware of power differential
are aware of potential for exploitation
refrain from dual relationships
presentation of accurate results
reporting unfavorable results
disguising/protecting identity of participants
making available enough information so that the study can be replicated
Counselors who believe that other counselors have violated ethical standards should:
a.
b.
c.
d.
seek informal resolution first
ignore the situation
report suspected violation(s) to an ethics committee
seek out clients to get the whole story
SE/ad – Adapted by Brighter Tomorrows Consulting, LLC, from ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Fifth Edition, Edited by
Barbara Herlihy and Gerald Corey, published by the American Counseling Association, 2006
25.
In an informal effort to resolve an ethical violation fails, counselors should:
a.
b.
c.
d.
26.
The practice of bartering is only acceptable when:
a.
b.
c.
d.
27.
respect counselor differences and leave it alone
report the colleague to an ethics committee
seek consultation from a supervisor
continue asking the colleague to change his/her behavior(s)
the relationship is not exploitive
the client requests it
the counselor is comfortable with the practice of bartering
a clear contract is established
Counselors who refuse to offer pro bono services:
a.
b.
c.
d.
should be considered unethical
should cancel their professional memberships
are clearly motivated by self-interest and gain, and should be removed from
the profession
can be considered ethical depending on circumstances
SE/ad – Adapted by Brighter Tomorrows Consulting, LLC, from ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, Fifth Edition, Edited by
Barbara Herlihy and Gerald Corey, published by the American Counseling Association, 2006