California LMFT Clinical Exam
Questions and Answers with Rationales| Latest Update
covers core content areas relevant to California LMFT clinical and law/ethics preparation:
confidentiality and Tarasoff/duty to protect, mandated reporting, informed consent,
scope of practice and dual relationships, documentation and record retention,
supervision, telehealth, crisis and risk assessment, major family systems and individual
therapy models, DSM-5-TR diagnostic concepts, mental status exam, human
development and attachment, substance use and motivational interviewing, group
therapy, cultural competence and humility, and termination.
,1. Under California law, a therapist's duty to protect arises from which landmark case?
A) Jaffee v. Redmond
B) Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California
C) In re Lifschutz
D) Osheroff v. Chestnut Lodge
Answer: B
Rationale: Tarasoff (1976) established that a therapist who determines a client
presents a serious danger of violence to an identifiable victim has a duty to take
reasonable steps to protect that victim, which may include warning them and
notifying law enforcement.
2. In California, the duty to protect under Tarasoff/Ewing is discharged by the
therapist doing which of the following?
A) Only documenting the threat in the chart
B) Making reasonable efforts to communicate the threat to the victim and notifying
law enforcement
C) Immediately hospitalizing the client involuntarily
D) Refusing further treatment to the client
Answer: B
Rationale: California Civil Code section 43.92 specifies that the duty to warn and
protect is discharged by reasonable attempts to notify the intended victim(s) and by
notifying a law enforcement agency.
,3. A client discloses ongoing physical abuse of their 10-year-old child. The therapist's
legal obligation is to:
A) Maintain confidentiality since this was shared in therapy
B) Make a mandated report to child protective services or law enforcement
immediately by phone, followed by a written report
C) Only report if the child is present at the session
D) Refer the client to another provider instead of reporting
Answer: B
Rationale: Under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA),
LMFTs are mandated reporters and must report suspected child abuse immediately
by telephone and follow up with a written report within the required timeframe.
4. Which of the following is NOT a mandated reporting category for California LMFTs?
A) Suspected child abuse or neglect
B) Suspected elder or dependent adult abuse
C) A client's disclosure of past, resolved marital infidelity
D) Domestic violence resulting in a mandated report under specific injury-reporting
statutes for certain settings
Answer: C
Rationale: Marital infidelity is not a reportable condition; CANRA and the Elder Abuse
and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act govern reporting of abuse/neglect of
children and elder or dependent adults, not private relational disclosures.
, 5. A therapist suspects that an elderly client is being financially exploited by a family
member. Under California law, the therapist should:
A) Ignore it since it is a financial, not physical, matter
B) Report suspected financial abuse of an elder to Adult Protective Services as
required under mandated reporting law
C) Confront the family member directly without reporting
D) Wait until physical harm occurs before reporting
Answer: B
Rationale: Financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult is a reportable form of
abuse under California's mandated reporting laws for elder and dependent adult
abuse.
6. Informed consent for psychotherapy in California should include all of the following
EXCEPT:
A) The nature and anticipated course of treatment
B) Fees and billing practices
C) Limits of confidentiality including mandated reporting exceptions
D) A guarantee of a specific treatment outcome
Answer: D
Rationale: Ethical and legal standards prohibit guaranteeing outcomes; informed
consent must cover the nature of treatment, fees, confidentiality limits, and the
client's right to ask questions or withdraw consent.
Questions and Answers with Rationales| Latest Update
covers core content areas relevant to California LMFT clinical and law/ethics preparation:
confidentiality and Tarasoff/duty to protect, mandated reporting, informed consent,
scope of practice and dual relationships, documentation and record retention,
supervision, telehealth, crisis and risk assessment, major family systems and individual
therapy models, DSM-5-TR diagnostic concepts, mental status exam, human
development and attachment, substance use and motivational interviewing, group
therapy, cultural competence and humility, and termination.
,1. Under California law, a therapist's duty to protect arises from which landmark case?
A) Jaffee v. Redmond
B) Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California
C) In re Lifschutz
D) Osheroff v. Chestnut Lodge
Answer: B
Rationale: Tarasoff (1976) established that a therapist who determines a client
presents a serious danger of violence to an identifiable victim has a duty to take
reasonable steps to protect that victim, which may include warning them and
notifying law enforcement.
2. In California, the duty to protect under Tarasoff/Ewing is discharged by the
therapist doing which of the following?
A) Only documenting the threat in the chart
B) Making reasonable efforts to communicate the threat to the victim and notifying
law enforcement
C) Immediately hospitalizing the client involuntarily
D) Refusing further treatment to the client
Answer: B
Rationale: California Civil Code section 43.92 specifies that the duty to warn and
protect is discharged by reasonable attempts to notify the intended victim(s) and by
notifying a law enforcement agency.
,3. A client discloses ongoing physical abuse of their 10-year-old child. The therapist's
legal obligation is to:
A) Maintain confidentiality since this was shared in therapy
B) Make a mandated report to child protective services or law enforcement
immediately by phone, followed by a written report
C) Only report if the child is present at the session
D) Refer the client to another provider instead of reporting
Answer: B
Rationale: Under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA),
LMFTs are mandated reporters and must report suspected child abuse immediately
by telephone and follow up with a written report within the required timeframe.
4. Which of the following is NOT a mandated reporting category for California LMFTs?
A) Suspected child abuse or neglect
B) Suspected elder or dependent adult abuse
C) A client's disclosure of past, resolved marital infidelity
D) Domestic violence resulting in a mandated report under specific injury-reporting
statutes for certain settings
Answer: C
Rationale: Marital infidelity is not a reportable condition; CANRA and the Elder Abuse
and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act govern reporting of abuse/neglect of
children and elder or dependent adults, not private relational disclosures.
, 5. A therapist suspects that an elderly client is being financially exploited by a family
member. Under California law, the therapist should:
A) Ignore it since it is a financial, not physical, matter
B) Report suspected financial abuse of an elder to Adult Protective Services as
required under mandated reporting law
C) Confront the family member directly without reporting
D) Wait until physical harm occurs before reporting
Answer: B
Rationale: Financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult is a reportable form of
abuse under California's mandated reporting laws for elder and dependent adult
abuse.
6. Informed consent for psychotherapy in California should include all of the following
EXCEPT:
A) The nature and anticipated course of treatment
B) Fees and billing practices
C) Limits of confidentiality including mandated reporting exceptions
D) A guarantee of a specific treatment outcome
Answer: D
Rationale: Ethical and legal standards prohibit guaranteeing outcomes; informed
consent must cover the nature of treatment, fees, confidentiality limits, and the
client's right to ask questions or withdraw consent.
