CA MFT Law & Ethics UPDATED
Questions and CORRECT Answers
T/F-- Clients have the right to sue their clinician for abandonment - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
T/F-- Couples should be informed that both reconciliation and divorce are possible outcomes of
therapy - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- If a 13 year old seeks and consents for his own treatment, his parents still have a legal right
to access his records - CORRECT ANSWER - False
T/F-- A therapist must obtain signed informed consent prior to treatment - CORRECT
ANSWER - False-- if adult, good practice but not necessarily signed before treatment; yes
if treating a minor though
T/F-- Legally, a therapist must disclose the fee for service by the end of the first session -
CORRECT ANSWER - False - before therapy begins
T/F-- The therapist has an ethical and legal duty to inform clients of possible outcomes of
treatment in order to remain within the standard of care - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- Managing confidentiality is a legal and ethical issue - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- If a husband calls for info about his wife who is in treatment, the therapist should exert
privilege - CORRECT ANSWER - False - confidentiality issue, not privilege
T/F-- A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality if there is reasonable suspicion of child
abuse - CORRECT ANSWER - True
, T/F-- A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality if the client is suicidal - CORRECT
ANSWER - False - not necessarily-- one thing you can do but other options
T/F-- If a client has a plan to vandalize someone's car, the therapist should warn the victim and
the police - CORRECT ANSWER - False
T/F-- If a client makes a threat to harm an identifiable other, the therapist should warn the victim
and the police - CORRECT ANSWER - False - client needs a PLAN to harm to warrant
this
T/F-- If a 65-year old woman shares that her husband hit her, the therapist should report domestic
violence to the police - CORRECT ANSWER - False - need to report elder abuse to
protective services
T/F-- When a clinician faces a legal action against them initiated by the client, the BBS or a
district attorney, the therapist is permitted to break confidentiality - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
T/F-- If another clinician contacts you stating that he/she has a release, you may provide the
information requested - CORRECT ANSWER - False
T/F-- When treating minors, it is the parent who holds privilege - CORRECT ANSWER -
False - it's held by the minor
T/F-- When a client has a guardian ad litem, conservator or trustee, that individual holds
privilege - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- The parent or guardian must provide legal consent for a minor's treatment if the minor is
under 12 - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- In all instances, minors in California hold the patient-psychotherapist privilege -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
Questions and CORRECT Answers
T/F-- Clients have the right to sue their clinician for abandonment - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
T/F-- Couples should be informed that both reconciliation and divorce are possible outcomes of
therapy - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- If a 13 year old seeks and consents for his own treatment, his parents still have a legal right
to access his records - CORRECT ANSWER - False
T/F-- A therapist must obtain signed informed consent prior to treatment - CORRECT
ANSWER - False-- if adult, good practice but not necessarily signed before treatment; yes
if treating a minor though
T/F-- Legally, a therapist must disclose the fee for service by the end of the first session -
CORRECT ANSWER - False - before therapy begins
T/F-- The therapist has an ethical and legal duty to inform clients of possible outcomes of
treatment in order to remain within the standard of care - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- Managing confidentiality is a legal and ethical issue - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- If a husband calls for info about his wife who is in treatment, the therapist should exert
privilege - CORRECT ANSWER - False - confidentiality issue, not privilege
T/F-- A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality if there is reasonable suspicion of child
abuse - CORRECT ANSWER - True
, T/F-- A therapist is obligated to break confidentiality if the client is suicidal - CORRECT
ANSWER - False - not necessarily-- one thing you can do but other options
T/F-- If a client has a plan to vandalize someone's car, the therapist should warn the victim and
the police - CORRECT ANSWER - False
T/F-- If a client makes a threat to harm an identifiable other, the therapist should warn the victim
and the police - CORRECT ANSWER - False - client needs a PLAN to harm to warrant
this
T/F-- If a 65-year old woman shares that her husband hit her, the therapist should report domestic
violence to the police - CORRECT ANSWER - False - need to report elder abuse to
protective services
T/F-- When a clinician faces a legal action against them initiated by the client, the BBS or a
district attorney, the therapist is permitted to break confidentiality - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
T/F-- If another clinician contacts you stating that he/she has a release, you may provide the
information requested - CORRECT ANSWER - False
T/F-- When treating minors, it is the parent who holds privilege - CORRECT ANSWER -
False - it's held by the minor
T/F-- When a client has a guardian ad litem, conservator or trustee, that individual holds
privilege - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- The parent or guardian must provide legal consent for a minor's treatment if the minor is
under 12 - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F-- In all instances, minors in California hold the patient-psychotherapist privilege -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
