MFT LAW AND ETHICS QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
A therapist meets with a 25-year-old woman who lives at home with her parents. The
client reports feeling extremely depressed, has a history of self-harm, and after a
suicide assessment, the therapist determines she is at a high risk of serious self-harm.
The client reports she does not have insurance and cannot afford to be hospitalized.
How should the therapist address the ethical and legal issues in this case? - Answers -
Initiate a 5150 because the client may need to be hospitalized.
A 13-year old boy discloses a history of sexual abuse. He informs the therapist that his
former therapist touched him during several sessions to demonstrate what is
appropriate versus sexually inappropriate touch. What actions should the therapist take
to address the legal issues in this case? - Answers - Report to CPS and process it with
client.
A therapist working in a community agency receives a referral for a child with severe
PTSD from sexual abuse. The therapist has no training or experience treating children
with PTSD from sexual abuse. The therapist should: - Answers - Refer the child to
appropriate services.
After referring a client to an acupuncturist for treatment the acupuncturist calls the
therapist and invites him to lunch to discuss how they can work together. He tells the
therapist that he is willing to pay for referrals. How should the therapist manage the
legal and ethical issues in this situation? - Answers - Inform him that he cannot accept
payment for referrals.
A younger therapist has been treating a 60-year-old Navajo woman for 3 months and
has a particularly ground-breaking session. At the next session, she arrives with a gift, a
beautiful handmade blanket. After the therapist explains that it would be unethical to
accept the gift, the woman appears insulted and quietly mumbles that she wishes to end
the session and discontinue therapy. Ethically, the therapist should have: - Answers -
Accepted the gift and discussed its significance.
During the sixth session with a 64-year-old man he breaks down in tears while
discussing his relationship with his estranged 40-year-old son. He confesses that when
his son was younger the client was physically abusive to his son on a number of
occasions, especially when the client had been drinking. He says that besides his wife,
he's never told this to anyone before. How should the therapist manage the legal
obligations in this case? - Answers - Maintain confidentiality of the reported abuse and
document session in his record.
,A therapist has been treating a 42 year-old, single man for five months. The client is a
successful partner at a prestigious law firm. For the past month, the client has noticed
improvements in his mood and his relationships with others. Around the holidays the
client leaves the therapist a bottle of wine outside the office as an expression of his
gratitude. What action should the therapist take to address the ethical issues in the
case? - Answers - Determine the estimated value of the wine.
A therapist at a mental health clinic meets with a single mother who recently moved
back in with her mom and step-dad after losing her job. She reports that her stepdad
has been threatening to kick her out of the house if she does not contribute more to the
household needs. The client says that she is afraid to be around him. What should the
therapist do FIRST? - Answers - Ask the client why she is afraid.
A therapist attends a group consultation. Another therapist begins presenting a case
and based on the information the therapist realizes that she is friends with the client.
How should the therapist deal with the realization? - Answers - Excuse herself from the
discussion of the client.
A long-term client comes to therapy and reports that he has been evicted and is in need
of housing immediately. The therapist's brother owns an apartment building and has an
available unit he's been struggling to rent. The therapist should: - Answers - Assist the
client in coming up with short and long-term solutions.
A client seeks therapy to help deal with problems with a roommate. After two sessions,
the therapist realizes that the client's roommate is a personal friend who has often
confided in the therapist about difficulties with this relationship. How should the therapist
address the ethical issues in this case? - Answers - Tell the client about the therapist's
relationship with the roommate and refer the client to another therapist.
A long-term client being treated for bipolar disorder announces her pregnancy and her
intent to continue taking lithium medication despite possible negative effects to the
fetus. Her psychiatrist has informed her of the consequences but agreed to continue
monitoring her medication. The therapist has a negative emotional reaction to the
client's decision. Ethically, the therapist should: - Answers - Take appropriate steps to
manage countertransference.
A client receives treatment for substance abuse by a therapist who is a recovering
alcoholic. During the course of this client's treatment, the therapist begins to experience
cravings and begins to use alcohol after sessions with this client. Which of the following
actions should the therapist take in order to address the ethical issues in this situation? -
Answers - Seek alcohol treatment to address relapse.
A woman calls a therapist at an agency and informs the therapist that her brother
received therapy from another therapist in the same agency and a business relationship
developed between that therapist and the client's brother. How should the therapist
, manage the ethical issue in this case? - Answers - Confront the colleague regarding the
alleged ethical violation.
A therapist is meeting with a 16-year-old boy who reports he recently broke into his
parents locked liquor cabinet when they were sleeping and got drunk. What legal
responsibilities does the therapist have in this case? - Answers - Maintain confidentiality
and assess for risk.
A licensed therapist moves to another city in a different part of the state and relocates
his private practice. What are his legal obligations in this case? - Answers - Notify the
Board of Behavioral Sciences of his change of address within 30 days.
A therapist lowered his fee for a client following the client losing his job. The client
informs the therapist that he was able to find a new job that pays even more than his
former job. The therapist would like to raise fees now that the client's financial situation
has improved. How should the therapist ethically manage the situation? - Answers -
Reassess the change in client's situation and raise it in an agreed about amount of time.
A therapist has terminated with her client due to presenting issue being outside the
therapist's scope of competence. The client was provided with a referral and has a first
session with the new therapist scheduled. Prior to meeting with the new therapist, the
client experiences a crisis situation and contacts the old therapist. What are the
therapist's legal obligations in this case? - Answers - Talk with client and help address
crisis since she has not started with the new therapist.
A 14-year-old girl consents to her own treatment after the therapist determined it would
not be appropriate to involve parents. After several sessions, the girl tells the therapist
that she would like to include her mother in treatment. How should the therapist manage
the legal issue of fees? - Answers - Inform the client that she will continue to be
responsible for fees.
An 83-year-old man is brought to therapy by his conservator. The conservator is
concerned the man is experiencing symptoms of depression and could benefit from
therapy. Legally, who should sign the consent? - Answers - Conservator
A therapist receives a phone call from a former client requesting access to his records.
The therapist terminated with the client several months back due to lack of payment and
sent the client's information to a collection's agency in an effort to collect the
outstanding balance. Ethically, how should the therapist respond to the client's request?
- Answers - Inform client that he can access his records within 5 business days after
therapist receives written request.
A therapist is treating a client with a history of suicide attempts and multiple
hospitalizations. During a session, the client reports a plan to take all his prescription
medications at once. He refuses to contact his psychiatrist. How should the therapist
ANSWERS
A therapist meets with a 25-year-old woman who lives at home with her parents. The
client reports feeling extremely depressed, has a history of self-harm, and after a
suicide assessment, the therapist determines she is at a high risk of serious self-harm.
The client reports she does not have insurance and cannot afford to be hospitalized.
How should the therapist address the ethical and legal issues in this case? - Answers -
Initiate a 5150 because the client may need to be hospitalized.
A 13-year old boy discloses a history of sexual abuse. He informs the therapist that his
former therapist touched him during several sessions to demonstrate what is
appropriate versus sexually inappropriate touch. What actions should the therapist take
to address the legal issues in this case? - Answers - Report to CPS and process it with
client.
A therapist working in a community agency receives a referral for a child with severe
PTSD from sexual abuse. The therapist has no training or experience treating children
with PTSD from sexual abuse. The therapist should: - Answers - Refer the child to
appropriate services.
After referring a client to an acupuncturist for treatment the acupuncturist calls the
therapist and invites him to lunch to discuss how they can work together. He tells the
therapist that he is willing to pay for referrals. How should the therapist manage the
legal and ethical issues in this situation? - Answers - Inform him that he cannot accept
payment for referrals.
A younger therapist has been treating a 60-year-old Navajo woman for 3 months and
has a particularly ground-breaking session. At the next session, she arrives with a gift, a
beautiful handmade blanket. After the therapist explains that it would be unethical to
accept the gift, the woman appears insulted and quietly mumbles that she wishes to end
the session and discontinue therapy. Ethically, the therapist should have: - Answers -
Accepted the gift and discussed its significance.
During the sixth session with a 64-year-old man he breaks down in tears while
discussing his relationship with his estranged 40-year-old son. He confesses that when
his son was younger the client was physically abusive to his son on a number of
occasions, especially when the client had been drinking. He says that besides his wife,
he's never told this to anyone before. How should the therapist manage the legal
obligations in this case? - Answers - Maintain confidentiality of the reported abuse and
document session in his record.
,A therapist has been treating a 42 year-old, single man for five months. The client is a
successful partner at a prestigious law firm. For the past month, the client has noticed
improvements in his mood and his relationships with others. Around the holidays the
client leaves the therapist a bottle of wine outside the office as an expression of his
gratitude. What action should the therapist take to address the ethical issues in the
case? - Answers - Determine the estimated value of the wine.
A therapist at a mental health clinic meets with a single mother who recently moved
back in with her mom and step-dad after losing her job. She reports that her stepdad
has been threatening to kick her out of the house if she does not contribute more to the
household needs. The client says that she is afraid to be around him. What should the
therapist do FIRST? - Answers - Ask the client why she is afraid.
A therapist attends a group consultation. Another therapist begins presenting a case
and based on the information the therapist realizes that she is friends with the client.
How should the therapist deal with the realization? - Answers - Excuse herself from the
discussion of the client.
A long-term client comes to therapy and reports that he has been evicted and is in need
of housing immediately. The therapist's brother owns an apartment building and has an
available unit he's been struggling to rent. The therapist should: - Answers - Assist the
client in coming up with short and long-term solutions.
A client seeks therapy to help deal with problems with a roommate. After two sessions,
the therapist realizes that the client's roommate is a personal friend who has often
confided in the therapist about difficulties with this relationship. How should the therapist
address the ethical issues in this case? - Answers - Tell the client about the therapist's
relationship with the roommate and refer the client to another therapist.
A long-term client being treated for bipolar disorder announces her pregnancy and her
intent to continue taking lithium medication despite possible negative effects to the
fetus. Her psychiatrist has informed her of the consequences but agreed to continue
monitoring her medication. The therapist has a negative emotional reaction to the
client's decision. Ethically, the therapist should: - Answers - Take appropriate steps to
manage countertransference.
A client receives treatment for substance abuse by a therapist who is a recovering
alcoholic. During the course of this client's treatment, the therapist begins to experience
cravings and begins to use alcohol after sessions with this client. Which of the following
actions should the therapist take in order to address the ethical issues in this situation? -
Answers - Seek alcohol treatment to address relapse.
A woman calls a therapist at an agency and informs the therapist that her brother
received therapy from another therapist in the same agency and a business relationship
developed between that therapist and the client's brother. How should the therapist
, manage the ethical issue in this case? - Answers - Confront the colleague regarding the
alleged ethical violation.
A therapist is meeting with a 16-year-old boy who reports he recently broke into his
parents locked liquor cabinet when they were sleeping and got drunk. What legal
responsibilities does the therapist have in this case? - Answers - Maintain confidentiality
and assess for risk.
A licensed therapist moves to another city in a different part of the state and relocates
his private practice. What are his legal obligations in this case? - Answers - Notify the
Board of Behavioral Sciences of his change of address within 30 days.
A therapist lowered his fee for a client following the client losing his job. The client
informs the therapist that he was able to find a new job that pays even more than his
former job. The therapist would like to raise fees now that the client's financial situation
has improved. How should the therapist ethically manage the situation? - Answers -
Reassess the change in client's situation and raise it in an agreed about amount of time.
A therapist has terminated with her client due to presenting issue being outside the
therapist's scope of competence. The client was provided with a referral and has a first
session with the new therapist scheduled. Prior to meeting with the new therapist, the
client experiences a crisis situation and contacts the old therapist. What are the
therapist's legal obligations in this case? - Answers - Talk with client and help address
crisis since she has not started with the new therapist.
A 14-year-old girl consents to her own treatment after the therapist determined it would
not be appropriate to involve parents. After several sessions, the girl tells the therapist
that she would like to include her mother in treatment. How should the therapist manage
the legal issue of fees? - Answers - Inform the client that she will continue to be
responsible for fees.
An 83-year-old man is brought to therapy by his conservator. The conservator is
concerned the man is experiencing symptoms of depression and could benefit from
therapy. Legally, who should sign the consent? - Answers - Conservator
A therapist receives a phone call from a former client requesting access to his records.
The therapist terminated with the client several months back due to lack of payment and
sent the client's information to a collection's agency in an effort to collect the
outstanding balance. Ethically, how should the therapist respond to the client's request?
- Answers - Inform client that he can access his records within 5 business days after
therapist receives written request.
A therapist is treating a client with a history of suicide attempts and multiple
hospitalizations. During a session, the client reports a plan to take all his prescription
medications at once. He refuses to contact his psychiatrist. How should the therapist
