CA Law & Ethics Exam (LPCC)
Professional clinical counseling - Correct answer-- application of counseling
interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques to identify and remediate cognitive,
mental, and emotional issues, including personal growth, adjustment to disability,
crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental problems
- conducting assessments for the purpose of establishing counseling goals and
objectives to empower individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce
stress, experience growth, change behavior, and make well-informed rational
decisions
- focused exclusively on the application of counseling interventions and
psychotherapeutic techniques for the purposes of improving mental health, and is
not intended to capture other, nonclinical forms of counseling for the purposes of
licensure.
Scope of Practice for LPCC - Correct answer-- does not include the assessment or
treatment of couples or families unless the counselor has completed additional
training and education, beyond the minimum training and education required for
licensure
- not include the provision of clinical social workservices
- can use of assessments within counselors' scope of practice.
- no restriction for LPCCs or PCCIs to assess and treat children
What are the requirements for LPCC who would like to work with families, couples,
and children? - Correct answer-- LPCCs and PCCIs can work with children, families,
and couples as long as they are supervised LMFT, LCSW, licensed psychologist,
licensed physician (board-certified in psychiatry) or a LPCC (completed 500hrs and 6
MFT graduate hrs w/ written confirmation from BBS).
- take 6 sem units/9 qtr hrs of MFT theory
- 500 hrs supervised work with children, family, couples
- 6 CEU MFT specific course each renewal cycle
Counselor impairment - Correct answer-Being alert to early signs of personal
problems (fatigue, burnout, depression, substance abuse) that may prevent one from
fulfilling professional obligations.
How should a counselor deal with impairment? - Correct answer-- maintain
consultation and supervision
- seek treatment
- provide appropriate referrals if necessary
If a client will benefit from being referred to another provider, what should a therapist
do? - Correct answer-- have a termination session focusing on transitioning them to
a new provider
- appropriate referrals
- clt sign ROI authorizing new and old therapist to communicate for continuity of care
- f/up with new therapist to transfer records and coordination of care
,What could potentially happen if therapist is unaware of his/her personal values,
attitudes, and beliefs? - Correct answer-- incorrect diagnoses and poor tx decisions
- bias toward one or more family members (if qualified to work with couples and
family)
- may become overly friendly/hostile with a clt
- likely to miss or misinterpret impt clinical info
How to manage impact of therapist's attitudes? - Correct answer-- consider how
attitudes are impacting tx
- seek supervision or consultation to ensure quality of care
- personal therapy to identify source of attitudes/beliefs/values
- refer if it continues to interfere, be careful not to abandon and referral is not
discriminatory in nature
T/F: If therapist refers clt out based on personal attitudes about race, gender, or
other protected characteristics, the therapist is not engaging in discrimnation. -
Correct answer-False, it is discrimination
Autonomy - Correct answer-CLT has fundamental right to choose for themselves
what kinds of mental health they will participate in, except for those who present an
imminent danger to selves or others (involuntary hospitalization)
- clt can discontinue/change provider any time
What is the primary reason for the existence of legal and ethical obligations? -
Correct answer-to protect the best interests of clients
When there is a direct conflict between the code of ethics and the law, what should a
therapist do? - Correct answer-follow what the law dictates
T/F: The agency policies trumps the code of ethics for counselors. - Correct answer-
False, agency policies does not excuse a counselor from following ethical
obligations.
informed consent for counseling - Correct answer-an ethical principle that research
participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to
participate
___________ is the cornerstone of the counseling relationship according to ACA
Code of Ethics. - Correct answer-Trust
respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients - Correct answer-primary
responsibilities of counselors
In developing a treatment plan, who is in charge? - Correct answer-counselor and clt
collaborating
T:/F Counselors can engage in a personal virtual relationship
with individuals with whom they have a current counseling
relationship (e.g., through social and
, other media) to establish rapport. - Correct answer-False, counselors are pohibited
What are the core professional values of the counseling profession? - Correct
answer-1. enhancing human development throughout the life span;
2. honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth,
dignity, potential, and
uniqueness of people within their social and cultural contexts;
3. promoting social justice;
4. safeguarding the integrity of the counselor-client relationship; and
5. practicing in a competent and ethical manner.
What are the fundamental principles of professional ethical behavior? - Correct
answer-AUTONOMY
NONMALEFICENCE
BENEFICENCE
JUSTICE
FIDELITY
VERACITY
Autonomy - Correct answer-fostering the right to control the direction of one's life
Nonmaleficence - Correct answer-do no harm
Beneficence - Correct answer-working for the good of the individual and society by
promoting mental health and wellbeing
Justice - Correct answer-treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and
equality
Fidelity - Correct answer-honoring commitments and keeping promises, including
fulfilling one's responsibilities of trust in professional relationship
Veracity - Correct answer-dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors
come in contact with
Counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques - Correct answer-
application of cognitive, affective, verbal or nonverbal, systemic or holistic counseling
strategies that include principles of development, wellness, and maladjustment that
reflect a pluralistic society. These interventions and techniques are specifically
implemented in the context of a professional clinical counseling relationship and use
of a variety of counseling theories and approaches
Assessment - Correct answer-- selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting
tests, instruments, and other tools and methods designed to measure an individual's
attitudes, abilities, aptitudes, achievements interests, personal characteristics,
disabilities, and mental, emotional, and behavioral concerns and development and
the use of methods and techniques for understanding human behavior in relation to
coping with, adapting to, or ameliorating changing life situations, as part of the
counseling process
Professional clinical counseling - Correct answer-- application of counseling
interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques to identify and remediate cognitive,
mental, and emotional issues, including personal growth, adjustment to disability,
crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental problems
- conducting assessments for the purpose of establishing counseling goals and
objectives to empower individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce
stress, experience growth, change behavior, and make well-informed rational
decisions
- focused exclusively on the application of counseling interventions and
psychotherapeutic techniques for the purposes of improving mental health, and is
not intended to capture other, nonclinical forms of counseling for the purposes of
licensure.
Scope of Practice for LPCC - Correct answer-- does not include the assessment or
treatment of couples or families unless the counselor has completed additional
training and education, beyond the minimum training and education required for
licensure
- not include the provision of clinical social workservices
- can use of assessments within counselors' scope of practice.
- no restriction for LPCCs or PCCIs to assess and treat children
What are the requirements for LPCC who would like to work with families, couples,
and children? - Correct answer-- LPCCs and PCCIs can work with children, families,
and couples as long as they are supervised LMFT, LCSW, licensed psychologist,
licensed physician (board-certified in psychiatry) or a LPCC (completed 500hrs and 6
MFT graduate hrs w/ written confirmation from BBS).
- take 6 sem units/9 qtr hrs of MFT theory
- 500 hrs supervised work with children, family, couples
- 6 CEU MFT specific course each renewal cycle
Counselor impairment - Correct answer-Being alert to early signs of personal
problems (fatigue, burnout, depression, substance abuse) that may prevent one from
fulfilling professional obligations.
How should a counselor deal with impairment? - Correct answer-- maintain
consultation and supervision
- seek treatment
- provide appropriate referrals if necessary
If a client will benefit from being referred to another provider, what should a therapist
do? - Correct answer-- have a termination session focusing on transitioning them to
a new provider
- appropriate referrals
- clt sign ROI authorizing new and old therapist to communicate for continuity of care
- f/up with new therapist to transfer records and coordination of care
,What could potentially happen if therapist is unaware of his/her personal values,
attitudes, and beliefs? - Correct answer-- incorrect diagnoses and poor tx decisions
- bias toward one or more family members (if qualified to work with couples and
family)
- may become overly friendly/hostile with a clt
- likely to miss or misinterpret impt clinical info
How to manage impact of therapist's attitudes? - Correct answer-- consider how
attitudes are impacting tx
- seek supervision or consultation to ensure quality of care
- personal therapy to identify source of attitudes/beliefs/values
- refer if it continues to interfere, be careful not to abandon and referral is not
discriminatory in nature
T/F: If therapist refers clt out based on personal attitudes about race, gender, or
other protected characteristics, the therapist is not engaging in discrimnation. -
Correct answer-False, it is discrimination
Autonomy - Correct answer-CLT has fundamental right to choose for themselves
what kinds of mental health they will participate in, except for those who present an
imminent danger to selves or others (involuntary hospitalization)
- clt can discontinue/change provider any time
What is the primary reason for the existence of legal and ethical obligations? -
Correct answer-to protect the best interests of clients
When there is a direct conflict between the code of ethics and the law, what should a
therapist do? - Correct answer-follow what the law dictates
T/F: The agency policies trumps the code of ethics for counselors. - Correct answer-
False, agency policies does not excuse a counselor from following ethical
obligations.
informed consent for counseling - Correct answer-an ethical principle that research
participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to
participate
___________ is the cornerstone of the counseling relationship according to ACA
Code of Ethics. - Correct answer-Trust
respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients - Correct answer-primary
responsibilities of counselors
In developing a treatment plan, who is in charge? - Correct answer-counselor and clt
collaborating
T:/F Counselors can engage in a personal virtual relationship
with individuals with whom they have a current counseling
relationship (e.g., through social and
, other media) to establish rapport. - Correct answer-False, counselors are pohibited
What are the core professional values of the counseling profession? - Correct
answer-1. enhancing human development throughout the life span;
2. honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth,
dignity, potential, and
uniqueness of people within their social and cultural contexts;
3. promoting social justice;
4. safeguarding the integrity of the counselor-client relationship; and
5. practicing in a competent and ethical manner.
What are the fundamental principles of professional ethical behavior? - Correct
answer-AUTONOMY
NONMALEFICENCE
BENEFICENCE
JUSTICE
FIDELITY
VERACITY
Autonomy - Correct answer-fostering the right to control the direction of one's life
Nonmaleficence - Correct answer-do no harm
Beneficence - Correct answer-working for the good of the individual and society by
promoting mental health and wellbeing
Justice - Correct answer-treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and
equality
Fidelity - Correct answer-honoring commitments and keeping promises, including
fulfilling one's responsibilities of trust in professional relationship
Veracity - Correct answer-dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors
come in contact with
Counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques - Correct answer-
application of cognitive, affective, verbal or nonverbal, systemic or holistic counseling
strategies that include principles of development, wellness, and maladjustment that
reflect a pluralistic society. These interventions and techniques are specifically
implemented in the context of a professional clinical counseling relationship and use
of a variety of counseling theories and approaches
Assessment - Correct answer-- selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting
tests, instruments, and other tools and methods designed to measure an individual's
attitudes, abilities, aptitudes, achievements interests, personal characteristics,
disabilities, and mental, emotional, and behavioral concerns and development and
the use of methods and techniques for understanding human behavior in relation to
coping with, adapting to, or ameliorating changing life situations, as part of the
counseling process
