MFT LAW & ETHICS PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
An Associate is considering asking his clinical supervisor to be his therapist. The
associate would like to address ongoing personal relationship issues. Which of the
following actions should the intern take to manage the ethical issue in this case?
A. Explore the relationship issues with the supervisor as part of supervision.
B. Arrange for therapy with the supervisor that is separate from supervision.
C. Seek personal therapy from another therapist to avoid a dual relationship.
D. Wait until supervision hours are complete prior to initiating personal therapy. -
Answers - C. Seek personal therapy from another therapist to avoid a dual relationship
A client initiates therapy for depression following a failed marriage. The therapist finds
the client very attractive. Which of the following actions should the therapist take first to
manage the ethical obligation in this case?
A. Suppress personal feelings of attraction and continue providing therapy.
B. Inform the client of the therapist's feelings and discuss therapeutic boundaries.
C. Explain the ethical issue to the client and provide a referral to an alternate therapist.
D. Seek consultation to manage the attraction and monitor therapeutic boundaries -
Answers - D. Seek consultation to manage the attraction and monitor therapeutic
boundaries
A 58-year-old client who is working on childhood abuse issues has recently become the
conservator of her mother's finances. The client states that now that she has control of
her mother's money she finally has extra money to buy what she wants and enjoy her
own life. The client states that her mother is "finally getting what she deserves." Which
of the following actions should the therapist take to address the legal issue involved in
this case?
A. Maintain confidentiality and address the client's childhood trauma.
B. Maintain confidentiality and seek consultation for any countertransference issues.
C. Break confidentiality and contact an adult protective services agency
D. Break confidentiality and initiate a well-person check. - Answers - C. Break
confidentiality and contact an adult protective services agency
Which of these tests is currently used for MFT licensure in California ?
a.MFT Clinical Exam
b.National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE)
c.National MFT Exam
d.California Family Therapy Exam for Licensure (CFTEL) - Answers - a.MFT Clinical
Exam
The therapist has a client whom he has been seeing for the past year. The client
struggles with OCD and generalized anxiety disorder. The client recently states that she
, needs an Emotional Support Animal and is thinking of getting a dog. She states her
apartment won't let her have a dog unless it is an ESA. She asks the therapist to write
her a letter noting that because of her diagnosis she needs an ESA at all times. The
therapist ethically should:
a) Continue to gather information regarding the client's need for an ESA.
b) Tell the client no because it is outside their scope of practice.
c) Refer the client to another therapist to determine if she really needs an ESA.
d) Write her the letter since she has been seeing for the past year. - Answers - a)
Continue to gather information regarding the client's need for an ESA.
During an initial assessment interview, a therapist observes that her new client is
suspicious of the agency and the therapist. The therapist provides informed consent,
including the limits of confidentiality. After receiving informed consent, the client tells the
therapist that he wants to share certain information but is concerned it could get his
friends in trouble. What is the most appropriate response to address the client's concern
in this case?
A. Recognize the client is not ready to talk about the situation and shift the focus to a
less threatening subject.
B. Acknowledge it could be hard to feel safe in this situation and encourage him to only
share information when he feels he is ready.
C. Confirm the client understands when a therapist must break confidentiality and show
him where the files are locked to ensure his privacy.D. Encourage the client to talk
about these things and reassure him that the therapi - Answers - B. Acknowledge it
could be hard to feel safe in this situation and encourage him to only share information
when he feels he is ready.
A 17-year-old is referred by her doctor to a mental health agency for counseling. The
client learned several weeks ago that she's pregnant. She reports she is in a
relationship with the person who got her pregnant, but they are not getting along, she
does not want him to know, and does not think she wants to have the baby. She is
conflicted about what to do and tells the therapist she would like support as she decides
what to do. The therapist has personal beliefs against abortion and feels strongly the
client should not have an abortion. How should the therapist address the conflict
presented in this case?
A. Seek immediate consultation to discuss the matter and determine if a referral would
be appropriate.
B. Seek consultation and refer the client to prenatal services.
C. Encourage the client to include her boyfriend in making a decision.
D. Share the therapist's personal beliefs and process how it affects the clie - Answers -
A. Seek immediate consultation to discuss the matter and determine if a referral would
be appropriate.
Of the 3,000 hours of supervised experience required for LMFT licensure, how many
hours may be gained within one's graduate degree program ?
a.0
b.500
VERIFIED ANSWERS
An Associate is considering asking his clinical supervisor to be his therapist. The
associate would like to address ongoing personal relationship issues. Which of the
following actions should the intern take to manage the ethical issue in this case?
A. Explore the relationship issues with the supervisor as part of supervision.
B. Arrange for therapy with the supervisor that is separate from supervision.
C. Seek personal therapy from another therapist to avoid a dual relationship.
D. Wait until supervision hours are complete prior to initiating personal therapy. -
Answers - C. Seek personal therapy from another therapist to avoid a dual relationship
A client initiates therapy for depression following a failed marriage. The therapist finds
the client very attractive. Which of the following actions should the therapist take first to
manage the ethical obligation in this case?
A. Suppress personal feelings of attraction and continue providing therapy.
B. Inform the client of the therapist's feelings and discuss therapeutic boundaries.
C. Explain the ethical issue to the client and provide a referral to an alternate therapist.
D. Seek consultation to manage the attraction and monitor therapeutic boundaries -
Answers - D. Seek consultation to manage the attraction and monitor therapeutic
boundaries
A 58-year-old client who is working on childhood abuse issues has recently become the
conservator of her mother's finances. The client states that now that she has control of
her mother's money she finally has extra money to buy what she wants and enjoy her
own life. The client states that her mother is "finally getting what she deserves." Which
of the following actions should the therapist take to address the legal issue involved in
this case?
A. Maintain confidentiality and address the client's childhood trauma.
B. Maintain confidentiality and seek consultation for any countertransference issues.
C. Break confidentiality and contact an adult protective services agency
D. Break confidentiality and initiate a well-person check. - Answers - C. Break
confidentiality and contact an adult protective services agency
Which of these tests is currently used for MFT licensure in California ?
a.MFT Clinical Exam
b.National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE)
c.National MFT Exam
d.California Family Therapy Exam for Licensure (CFTEL) - Answers - a.MFT Clinical
Exam
The therapist has a client whom he has been seeing for the past year. The client
struggles with OCD and generalized anxiety disorder. The client recently states that she
, needs an Emotional Support Animal and is thinking of getting a dog. She states her
apartment won't let her have a dog unless it is an ESA. She asks the therapist to write
her a letter noting that because of her diagnosis she needs an ESA at all times. The
therapist ethically should:
a) Continue to gather information regarding the client's need for an ESA.
b) Tell the client no because it is outside their scope of practice.
c) Refer the client to another therapist to determine if she really needs an ESA.
d) Write her the letter since she has been seeing for the past year. - Answers - a)
Continue to gather information regarding the client's need for an ESA.
During an initial assessment interview, a therapist observes that her new client is
suspicious of the agency and the therapist. The therapist provides informed consent,
including the limits of confidentiality. After receiving informed consent, the client tells the
therapist that he wants to share certain information but is concerned it could get his
friends in trouble. What is the most appropriate response to address the client's concern
in this case?
A. Recognize the client is not ready to talk about the situation and shift the focus to a
less threatening subject.
B. Acknowledge it could be hard to feel safe in this situation and encourage him to only
share information when he feels he is ready.
C. Confirm the client understands when a therapist must break confidentiality and show
him where the files are locked to ensure his privacy.D. Encourage the client to talk
about these things and reassure him that the therapi - Answers - B. Acknowledge it
could be hard to feel safe in this situation and encourage him to only share information
when he feels he is ready.
A 17-year-old is referred by her doctor to a mental health agency for counseling. The
client learned several weeks ago that she's pregnant. She reports she is in a
relationship with the person who got her pregnant, but they are not getting along, she
does not want him to know, and does not think she wants to have the baby. She is
conflicted about what to do and tells the therapist she would like support as she decides
what to do. The therapist has personal beliefs against abortion and feels strongly the
client should not have an abortion. How should the therapist address the conflict
presented in this case?
A. Seek immediate consultation to discuss the matter and determine if a referral would
be appropriate.
B. Seek consultation and refer the client to prenatal services.
C. Encourage the client to include her boyfriend in making a decision.
D. Share the therapist's personal beliefs and process how it affects the clie - Answers -
A. Seek immediate consultation to discuss the matter and determine if a referral would
be appropriate.
Of the 3,000 hours of supervised experience required for LMFT licensure, how many
hours may be gained within one's graduate degree program ?
a.0
b.500
