LCSW Law and Ethics Exam 2025
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
During the initial session, the client mentions that she has been hospitalized several
times for "severe depression". The client becomes tense and guarded when the therapist
attempts to explore the hospitalizations, saying that "it's in the past": She also states
adamantly that she won't give permission to get those records. The therapist should
FIRST: - ✔✔acknowledge her right to decide about releasing her records.
Obtaining informed consent from clients is: - ✔✔Both legal and ethical.
A 72-year-old elderly widower is brought for an evaluation to a clinic by his daughters,
both of whom live an hour away from where he still resides in the family home. The
daughters are concerned that there is "no one to look after Dad." When they came to
visit him, they found the house in complete disarray: full trashcans, sink overflowing
with dirty dishes, clogged toilet, and no clean clothes. The neurological and mental
status exam reveals no dementia. The man is ambulatory although a cane is
recommended. The daughters want to place him in an assisted living facility, but the
father is adamantly opposed and wants to stay in his home. The therapist's course of
action is to: - ✔✔respect the client's right to self-determination and arrange for an in-
home evaluation.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY GRACE AMELIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,When developing a private practice a therapist should consider all of the following to
ensure continuity of care, except: - ✔✔Providing clients with three additional referrals
at onset of therapy.
A therapist, who was formerly employed as a financial planner, now treats couples with
relationship issues. Occasionally, the therapist will assist a couple he is treating with
financial planning when that is one of the sources of their conflict. The therapist's
behavior is: - ✔✔Unacceptable because it is outside his scope of practice.
A therapist has been treating a woman for depression in private practice for four
months. During an emotional session the client discloses that she was sexually molested
when she was eight by her neighbor. The therapist has minimal training in treating
childhood sexual abuse. The therapist should: - ✔✔Seek consultation immediately.
A therapist has been treating a client with Generalized Anxiety Disorder for five
months. The client's symptoms have disappeared and the client is functioning well. The
therapist enjoys the sessions with the client so she has been reluctant to bring up
termination. Also, the client pays full fee and the therapist is worried about losing the
income. The therapist's behavior is: - ✔✔Unethical.
A therapist receives a court order to testify in a hearing for a client accused of child
abuse. The therapist should FIRST: - ✔✔consult with a lawyer regarding the matter.
A 13-year-old girl is referred by her teacher for therapy for depression. The therapist
determines she is mature enough to consent for her treatment. LEGALLY the therapist
should first: - ✔✔Determine whether her parents should give consent.
A family consisting of a mother, stepfather, 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter
seeks family therapy after the recent marriage of the mother and stepfather. From
whom should the therapist obtain informed consent? - ✔✔The mother because she has
custody of her kids.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY GRACE AMELIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, The mother and stepfather because the children are too young to consent.
The mother, stepfather and 13 year-old because the 11 year old isn't old enough to
consent.
A new client comes to the initial therapy session in crisis. The therapist does not inform
the client of the fee prior to the initial session. When the client receives the bill, she
refuses to pay. In this situation, the therapist should: - ✔✔accept client's refusal to pay.
A client suffering from Bipolar I Disorder commits suicide after leaving the psychiatric
hospital. The client had been seeing a therapist for five months. The client's legal
representative contacts the therapist and requests access to the client's records. How
should the therapist respond? - ✔✔Allow representative access to the records after
signing a release.
A private practice therapist has decided to not use insurance companies for payment to
protect their clients' confidentiality .Also in the interest of protecting client
confidentiality, the therapist keeps the client records secured in a locked file cabinet and
include only the dates of treatment and whether the client was "better" or "worse." Is the
therapist in compliance with professional guidelines? - ✔✔No, because there is
insufficient documentation.
A school counselor refers a 14-year-old boy to therapy following an altercation with
another student. The client reports a good relationship with his parents. The therapist
should first: - ✔✔determine how the client feels about his parents consenting to
treatment.
A therapist in a small rural community has decided to consult with a colleague about a
client who does not seem to be progressing in therapy. As part of the consultation the
therapist should: - ✔✔A. Obtain a release from the client since the colleague might
know him/her.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY GRACE AMELIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
During the initial session, the client mentions that she has been hospitalized several
times for "severe depression". The client becomes tense and guarded when the therapist
attempts to explore the hospitalizations, saying that "it's in the past": She also states
adamantly that she won't give permission to get those records. The therapist should
FIRST: - ✔✔acknowledge her right to decide about releasing her records.
Obtaining informed consent from clients is: - ✔✔Both legal and ethical.
A 72-year-old elderly widower is brought for an evaluation to a clinic by his daughters,
both of whom live an hour away from where he still resides in the family home. The
daughters are concerned that there is "no one to look after Dad." When they came to
visit him, they found the house in complete disarray: full trashcans, sink overflowing
with dirty dishes, clogged toilet, and no clean clothes. The neurological and mental
status exam reveals no dementia. The man is ambulatory although a cane is
recommended. The daughters want to place him in an assisted living facility, but the
father is adamantly opposed and wants to stay in his home. The therapist's course of
action is to: - ✔✔respect the client's right to self-determination and arrange for an in-
home evaluation.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY GRACE AMELIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,When developing a private practice a therapist should consider all of the following to
ensure continuity of care, except: - ✔✔Providing clients with three additional referrals
at onset of therapy.
A therapist, who was formerly employed as a financial planner, now treats couples with
relationship issues. Occasionally, the therapist will assist a couple he is treating with
financial planning when that is one of the sources of their conflict. The therapist's
behavior is: - ✔✔Unacceptable because it is outside his scope of practice.
A therapist has been treating a woman for depression in private practice for four
months. During an emotional session the client discloses that she was sexually molested
when she was eight by her neighbor. The therapist has minimal training in treating
childhood sexual abuse. The therapist should: - ✔✔Seek consultation immediately.
A therapist has been treating a client with Generalized Anxiety Disorder for five
months. The client's symptoms have disappeared and the client is functioning well. The
therapist enjoys the sessions with the client so she has been reluctant to bring up
termination. Also, the client pays full fee and the therapist is worried about losing the
income. The therapist's behavior is: - ✔✔Unethical.
A therapist receives a court order to testify in a hearing for a client accused of child
abuse. The therapist should FIRST: - ✔✔consult with a lawyer regarding the matter.
A 13-year-old girl is referred by her teacher for therapy for depression. The therapist
determines she is mature enough to consent for her treatment. LEGALLY the therapist
should first: - ✔✔Determine whether her parents should give consent.
A family consisting of a mother, stepfather, 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter
seeks family therapy after the recent marriage of the mother and stepfather. From
whom should the therapist obtain informed consent? - ✔✔The mother because she has
custody of her kids.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY GRACE AMELIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, The mother and stepfather because the children are too young to consent.
The mother, stepfather and 13 year-old because the 11 year old isn't old enough to
consent.
A new client comes to the initial therapy session in crisis. The therapist does not inform
the client of the fee prior to the initial session. When the client receives the bill, she
refuses to pay. In this situation, the therapist should: - ✔✔accept client's refusal to pay.
A client suffering from Bipolar I Disorder commits suicide after leaving the psychiatric
hospital. The client had been seeing a therapist for five months. The client's legal
representative contacts the therapist and requests access to the client's records. How
should the therapist respond? - ✔✔Allow representative access to the records after
signing a release.
A private practice therapist has decided to not use insurance companies for payment to
protect their clients' confidentiality .Also in the interest of protecting client
confidentiality, the therapist keeps the client records secured in a locked file cabinet and
include only the dates of treatment and whether the client was "better" or "worse." Is the
therapist in compliance with professional guidelines? - ✔✔No, because there is
insufficient documentation.
A school counselor refers a 14-year-old boy to therapy following an altercation with
another student. The client reports a good relationship with his parents. The therapist
should first: - ✔✔determine how the client feels about his parents consenting to
treatment.
A therapist in a small rural community has decided to consult with a colleague about a
client who does not seem to be progressing in therapy. As part of the consultation the
therapist should: - ✔✔A. Obtain a release from the client since the colleague might
know him/her.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY GRACE AMELIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
