Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
COUN 533 - LEGAL & ETHICAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING |
LATEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS - VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026/2027
COUN 533- Legal & Ethical Issues In Counseling
LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING
1. Which ethical principle refers to a counselor's obligation to avoid
actions that risk harming clients?
A. Beneficence
B. Fidelity
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
C. Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence is the principle of 'above all, do no harm,' which includes
avoiding interventions that risk injuring the client.
Page 1 of 67
, Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
2. A counselor who consistently keeps appointments, honors promises,
and follows through on commitments to clients is demonstrating which
principle?
A. Autonomy
B. Fidelity
C. Justice
D. Veracity
B. Fidelity
Fidelity involves honoring commitments and keeping promises, which
builds the trust required for an effective counseling relationship.
3. The ethical principle of veracity is best described as:
A. Working for the good of the individual and society
B. Treating all clients fairly regardless of background
C. Dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come into
professional contact
D. Respecting the client's right to self-determination
C. Dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come
into professional contact
Veracity is the commitment to truthfulness and honesty in all professional
dealings.
4. Kitchener's (1984) original model identified five moral principles.
Which principle was added in the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics Preamble as
a sixth foundational principle?
A. Autonomy
B. Fidelity
C. Justice
D. Veracity
D. Veracity
Kitchener named autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and
fidelity; the 2014 ACA Code added veracity.
Page 2 of 67
, Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
5. A client decides to leave a stable job to pursue an artistic career
despite the counselor's concerns. Supporting the client's right to make
this decision reflects which principle?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Paternalism
B. Autonomy
Autonomy is respect for the client's right to control the direction of their
own life and make independent choices.
6. In counseling, the principle of justice refers to:
A. Promoting the good of the client and society
B. Keeping promises made to clients
C. Avoiding actions that cause harm
D. Treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and equality
D. Treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and equality
Justice requires fair and equitable treatment of all clients, including fair
access to services.
7. Which statement best describes the relationship between law and
ethics in counseling?
A. Ethical codes always take precedence over state and federal law
B. Ethics are enforced by courts, while laws are enforced by professional
associations
C. Laws and ethics are identical in content and purpose
D. Laws generally set minimum standards society will tolerate, while
ethics represent ideal standards set by the profession
D. Laws generally set minimum standards society will tolerate, while
ethics represent ideal standards set by the profession
Laws establish the minimum that is legally required, while professional
codes describe the higher standard the profession expects.
Page 3 of 67
, Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
8. Aspirational ethics differs from mandatory ethics in that aspirational
ethics involves:
A. Complying only with requirements set by licensing boards
B. Applying ethical rules only when a complaint is filed
C. Striving for the highest standards of practice beyond minimum
compliance
D. Following rules strictly to avoid sanctions
C. Striving for the highest standards of practice beyond minimum
compliance
Mandatory ethics is minimal rule-following; aspirational ethics reflects
striving toward the ideals behind those rules.
9. According to the Forester-Miller and Davis ethical decision-making
model, what is the first step a counselor should take?
A. Apply the ACA Code of Ethics
B. Identify the problem
C. Generate potential courses of action
D. Consider the consequences of all options
B. Identify the problem
The model begins with identifying the problem and gathering facts before
consulting the Code or generating options.
10. A counselor asks, 'Would I be comfortable if my chosen course of
action were reported in the press?' This reflects which test?
A. The test of publicity
B. The test of universality
C. The test of justice
D. The test of competence
A. The test of publicity
Stadler's test of publicity asks whether the counselor would want the
behavior reported publicly.
Page 4 of 67
COUN 533 - LEGAL & ETHICAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING |
LATEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS - VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026/2027
COUN 533- Legal & Ethical Issues In Counseling
LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING
1. Which ethical principle refers to a counselor's obligation to avoid
actions that risk harming clients?
A. Beneficence
B. Fidelity
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
C. Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence is the principle of 'above all, do no harm,' which includes
avoiding interventions that risk injuring the client.
Page 1 of 67
, Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
2. A counselor who consistently keeps appointments, honors promises,
and follows through on commitments to clients is demonstrating which
principle?
A. Autonomy
B. Fidelity
C. Justice
D. Veracity
B. Fidelity
Fidelity involves honoring commitments and keeping promises, which
builds the trust required for an effective counseling relationship.
3. The ethical principle of veracity is best described as:
A. Working for the good of the individual and society
B. Treating all clients fairly regardless of background
C. Dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come into
professional contact
D. Respecting the client's right to self-determination
C. Dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come
into professional contact
Veracity is the commitment to truthfulness and honesty in all professional
dealings.
4. Kitchener's (1984) original model identified five moral principles.
Which principle was added in the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics Preamble as
a sixth foundational principle?
A. Autonomy
B. Fidelity
C. Justice
D. Veracity
D. Veracity
Kitchener named autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and
fidelity; the 2014 ACA Code added veracity.
Page 2 of 67
, Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
5. A client decides to leave a stable job to pursue an artistic career
despite the counselor's concerns. Supporting the client's right to make
this decision reflects which principle?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Paternalism
B. Autonomy
Autonomy is respect for the client's right to control the direction of their
own life and make independent choices.
6. In counseling, the principle of justice refers to:
A. Promoting the good of the client and society
B. Keeping promises made to clients
C. Avoiding actions that cause harm
D. Treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and equality
D. Treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and equality
Justice requires fair and equitable treatment of all clients, including fair
access to services.
7. Which statement best describes the relationship between law and
ethics in counseling?
A. Ethical codes always take precedence over state and federal law
B. Ethics are enforced by courts, while laws are enforced by professional
associations
C. Laws and ethics are identical in content and purpose
D. Laws generally set minimum standards society will tolerate, while
ethics represent ideal standards set by the profession
D. Laws generally set minimum standards society will tolerate, while
ethics represent ideal standards set by the profession
Laws establish the minimum that is legally required, while professional
codes describe the higher standard the profession expects.
Page 3 of 67
, Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
8. Aspirational ethics differs from mandatory ethics in that aspirational
ethics involves:
A. Complying only with requirements set by licensing boards
B. Applying ethical rules only when a complaint is filed
C. Striving for the highest standards of practice beyond minimum
compliance
D. Following rules strictly to avoid sanctions
C. Striving for the highest standards of practice beyond minimum
compliance
Mandatory ethics is minimal rule-following; aspirational ethics reflects
striving toward the ideals behind those rules.
9. According to the Forester-Miller and Davis ethical decision-making
model, what is the first step a counselor should take?
A. Apply the ACA Code of Ethics
B. Identify the problem
C. Generate potential courses of action
D. Consider the consequences of all options
B. Identify the problem
The model begins with identifying the problem and gathering facts before
consulting the Code or generating options.
10. A counselor asks, 'Would I be comfortable if my chosen course of
action were reported in the press?' This reflects which test?
A. The test of publicity
B. The test of universality
C. The test of justice
D. The test of competence
A. The test of publicity
Stadler's test of publicity asks whether the counselor would want the
behavior reported publicly.
Page 4 of 67
