Professional Practice and Ethics Practice Questions and
Answers 2023(CECE)
When does the counselor inform the client of the purposes, goals, techniques,
procedures, limitations, potential risks and benefits of the counseling process?
a. At the beginning of the counseling relationship
b. Every other session
c. Whenever the client asks
d. Before counseling begins and any time conditions change or new issues are
discovered
d - Counselors should discuss informed consent at the onset of the initial assessment
and then review the consents and agreements as necessary throughout the counseling
relationship.
____________ is the process of gaining insight into who you are.
a. Contemplation
b. Empathy
c. Self-Awareness
d. Active Listening
c - Self-Awareness is the process of gaining insight into who you are. Self-Awareness is
a characteristic of an effective helper. Self-aware helpers are conscious of their
motivations, strengths, weakness, their emotions, limitations, and values and how they
may consciously or subconsciously influence a counseling relationship
The helping process in which a counselor works with one or more professionals:
a. Counter-transference
b. Consultation
c. Crystallization
d. Confrontation
b - Consultation is the helping process in which a counselor works with one or more
professionals who work with clients. The counselor role is to assist the professionals or
consultees by helping to identify barriers, improve the client relationship or identify ways
of providing more effective services to the client. The professionals being served by the
consultant are the direct clients and the clients being serviced by the consultees are
considered the indirect-clients
A counselor is working with a client who is diagnosed with depression. In order
to assess the client's competency to provide informed consent, the counselor
should consider all of the following except:
a. If the client can express choice.
b. The opinion of the client's spouse.
c. Whether the client's response to information is rational.
d. The client's ability to understand the information being presented.
b - When assessing competency to provide informed consent, the focus needs to be on
the client. The opinions of people who are important to the client may factor in to the
client's decision to give informed consent, but another person's opinion is not something
the counselor considers when assessing competency.
,Mary is a counselor and has received a referral to work with an inmate who has
been recently released from prison. Mary says to her co-worker, "I don't know
why they assigned him to me, he's only going to re-offend and end up back in
jail." Mary's attitude reflects:
a. Prejudice
b. Cultural insensitivity
c. Ethnocentrism
d. Lack of Objectivity
d - Mary's attitude reflects a lack of objectivity towards the client. Objectivity is a
characteristic of an effective counselor. The ability to demonstrate objectivity means to
be able to view the client or the situation without assigning any judgment or allowing
external information to influence the counselor's perspective of the client. Objectivity is
being able to view the client and counseling relationship as a blank slate so that
conclusions can emerge naturally as the counseling relationship develops.
Your patient enters your session excited about the New Age therapy you tried last
session. She had brought in an article, and because of her enthusiasm and the
fact that it did not require any new training, you had agreed to give it a try. She
asks you to continue during this session, but you have done your homework: it's
been proven ineffective and, in a select few clients, the condition was slightly
worsened. You validate your patient, noting how glad you are that she's excited
to try something new. Then you tell her that, unfortunately, you won't be able to
continue with these types of treatments. With this act, you are expressing:
a. Anti-Consumerism
b. Beneficence
c. Exploitation
d. Nonmaleficence
d - "Nonmaleficence" is refraining from providing ineffective treatments or acting with
malice towards a patient. "Anti-consumerism" is incorrect because is not a therapeutic
or ethical term. "Beneficence" is incorrect because it means that you take actions to
benefit others. "Exploitation" is incorrect because it is a therapist's misuse of power to
influence and exploit clients for their own benefit and to the clients' detriment.
There is an office policy which states that clients are to leave their pets at home.
For which person must you make an exception?
a. A client who informs you their cat is a therapy service animal.
b. A client who uses a service dog because of PTSD.
c. A client who has a pet who suffers from separation anxiety.
d. A client whose pets are not getting along with each other, so he asks to bring
one along.
b - Under Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is defined as a dog that has
been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. In
the client's case in b, the service dog has been trained to assist because of their
disability. Answer A is incorrect because service animals are defined specifically as
dogs, not cats. Even though the ADA is limited to service dogs, state or local laws may
require accommodation with other type animals that serve as emotional support in
public places. A difference between service animals and emotional support animals, in
,most cases, is that the emotional support animals have not been trained to perform a
specific job as required under the ADA.
Which of the following can pose a hindrance to termination?
a. Attachment and dependency
b. Addiction and denial
c. Anger and confrontation
d. Personalization and catastrophizing
a - Attachment and dependency can pose a hindrance when it is time for the counselor
and client to terminate the counseling relationship. Termination is the gradual approach
of moving towards the end of a therapeutic relationship. Termination takes places over
a period of time. The time to begin the termination process is usually signaled by the
fact that the client has reached their goals in counseling as well as gained a certain
level of psychological understanding and growth. Termination can be hindered if an
attachment has developed between the two parties. The two parties have developed a
fondness and enjoy spending time with each other. Also, if one of the two parties
develops a dependency on one or the other it can also pose a hindrance to healthy
termination. A fear of "being alone" or not having a support system can prevent a client
from accepting that it is time to terminate the counseling relationship or the ideal of the
loss of financial or personal gain on the part of the counselor can interfere with healthy
termination.
A male counselor takes extra measures to be self-aware when working with
female clients in therapy so that he does not apply inappropriate sex-role
stereotypes. This counselor is conscious about practicing:
a. Cognitive Behavior Therapy
b. Person-Centered Therapy
c. Gender-fair Therapy
d. Multi-cultural Therapy
c - Gender-fair therapy is the counseling of women that addresses the impact of
inappropriate sexrole stereotypes such as; women have lower self-esteem, women are
more emotional, women are more fearful, timid and anxious, women are less
aggressive than men. Gender-fair therapy realizes that there are no prescribed sex-role
behaviors. There is a focus on a heightened awareness of one's personal identity or
values as it pertains to the client's perception of their sex-roles. Genderfair therapy
understands that the reversal of traditional sex roles is not pathological and promotes
an awareness that anatomical differences are not a basis for theories of behavior. The
practice of gender-fair counseling includes the use of gender-fair language that does not
reflect, assign or impose stereotypical sex or gender roles.
Which of the following best demonstrates attending to group process?
a. Sarah, you are shaking your leg
b. Jessica, you said you had a solution. Can you share it?
c. Pamela, you just started picking your fingers when Samuel started talking
d. I'm noticing the time and group is over
c - Process involves noticing the dynamic between group members, with the group
serving as a social system. Attending to content happens when you notice something in
and of itself (leg shaking, verbalization, the time) without relating it to the dynamic of the
group.
, Generally speaking, group size with kids in relation to adult groups should be:
a. Larger
b. Smaller
c. About the same
b - Children's groups should be about half the size of adult groups.
Of the following, the most effective duration for a group is:
a. Ninety minutes
b. Forty-five minutes
c. Three hours
d. Half a day
a - Groups that run from 1-2 hours hold members' attention and allow for the most
therapeutic benefit.
You have just launched a successful therapy group and want to promote it to
engage new clients so they, too, can benefit. You have asked your current
therapy clients to offer an anonymous testimonial, telling others how useful it has
been. From an ethical standpoint, this is _____________.
a. prohibited under any circumstances
b. allowed since it is a successful group that would benefit future clients that may
join
c. allowed, only if they sign a voluntary testimonial release
d. prohibited unless they sign a voluntary testimonial release, use a pseudo-name
and do not provide a photo
a - The ACA Code of Ethics outlines that testimonials from clients, former clients or any
other person vulnerable to undue influence is prohibited
. You are a licensed professional counselor with a Master's degree in Counseling
and a doctorate (PhD) in Technology and Operations Management. On your
appointment cards for clients, the most appropriate way to list yourself is:
a. Jane Doe, MA, LPC
b. Dr. Jane Doe, LPC
c. Jane Doe, PhD
d. Dr. Jane Doe, PhD, LPC
a - According to the ACA Code of Ethics, when acting in a counselor context,
counselors may only use their highest degree earned in counseling and should not
imply doctorate-level competence unless their doctorate degree is in a clinical or related
field.
A client you have been seeing weekly for severe depression loses his job and his
insurance. He tells you that he would like to keep seeing you but can only afford
to come once a month. Ethically, the best choice is to:
a. Tell him to take a three-week break so you can explore referrals and fee
structures
b. Tell him he should continue to see you every week and ask him use his credit
card
c. See you save four hours a month for pro bono work, and the other three are
taken, see him for free on a once-monthly basis for as long as he's unemployed
so he won't have to go elsewhere
d. Explore referrals to a healthcare agency that sees patients on a sliding scale
Answers 2023(CECE)
When does the counselor inform the client of the purposes, goals, techniques,
procedures, limitations, potential risks and benefits of the counseling process?
a. At the beginning of the counseling relationship
b. Every other session
c. Whenever the client asks
d. Before counseling begins and any time conditions change or new issues are
discovered
d - Counselors should discuss informed consent at the onset of the initial assessment
and then review the consents and agreements as necessary throughout the counseling
relationship.
____________ is the process of gaining insight into who you are.
a. Contemplation
b. Empathy
c. Self-Awareness
d. Active Listening
c - Self-Awareness is the process of gaining insight into who you are. Self-Awareness is
a characteristic of an effective helper. Self-aware helpers are conscious of their
motivations, strengths, weakness, their emotions, limitations, and values and how they
may consciously or subconsciously influence a counseling relationship
The helping process in which a counselor works with one or more professionals:
a. Counter-transference
b. Consultation
c. Crystallization
d. Confrontation
b - Consultation is the helping process in which a counselor works with one or more
professionals who work with clients. The counselor role is to assist the professionals or
consultees by helping to identify barriers, improve the client relationship or identify ways
of providing more effective services to the client. The professionals being served by the
consultant are the direct clients and the clients being serviced by the consultees are
considered the indirect-clients
A counselor is working with a client who is diagnosed with depression. In order
to assess the client's competency to provide informed consent, the counselor
should consider all of the following except:
a. If the client can express choice.
b. The opinion of the client's spouse.
c. Whether the client's response to information is rational.
d. The client's ability to understand the information being presented.
b - When assessing competency to provide informed consent, the focus needs to be on
the client. The opinions of people who are important to the client may factor in to the
client's decision to give informed consent, but another person's opinion is not something
the counselor considers when assessing competency.
,Mary is a counselor and has received a referral to work with an inmate who has
been recently released from prison. Mary says to her co-worker, "I don't know
why they assigned him to me, he's only going to re-offend and end up back in
jail." Mary's attitude reflects:
a. Prejudice
b. Cultural insensitivity
c. Ethnocentrism
d. Lack of Objectivity
d - Mary's attitude reflects a lack of objectivity towards the client. Objectivity is a
characteristic of an effective counselor. The ability to demonstrate objectivity means to
be able to view the client or the situation without assigning any judgment or allowing
external information to influence the counselor's perspective of the client. Objectivity is
being able to view the client and counseling relationship as a blank slate so that
conclusions can emerge naturally as the counseling relationship develops.
Your patient enters your session excited about the New Age therapy you tried last
session. She had brought in an article, and because of her enthusiasm and the
fact that it did not require any new training, you had agreed to give it a try. She
asks you to continue during this session, but you have done your homework: it's
been proven ineffective and, in a select few clients, the condition was slightly
worsened. You validate your patient, noting how glad you are that she's excited
to try something new. Then you tell her that, unfortunately, you won't be able to
continue with these types of treatments. With this act, you are expressing:
a. Anti-Consumerism
b. Beneficence
c. Exploitation
d. Nonmaleficence
d - "Nonmaleficence" is refraining from providing ineffective treatments or acting with
malice towards a patient. "Anti-consumerism" is incorrect because is not a therapeutic
or ethical term. "Beneficence" is incorrect because it means that you take actions to
benefit others. "Exploitation" is incorrect because it is a therapist's misuse of power to
influence and exploit clients for their own benefit and to the clients' detriment.
There is an office policy which states that clients are to leave their pets at home.
For which person must you make an exception?
a. A client who informs you their cat is a therapy service animal.
b. A client who uses a service dog because of PTSD.
c. A client who has a pet who suffers from separation anxiety.
d. A client whose pets are not getting along with each other, so he asks to bring
one along.
b - Under Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is defined as a dog that has
been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. In
the client's case in b, the service dog has been trained to assist because of their
disability. Answer A is incorrect because service animals are defined specifically as
dogs, not cats. Even though the ADA is limited to service dogs, state or local laws may
require accommodation with other type animals that serve as emotional support in
public places. A difference between service animals and emotional support animals, in
,most cases, is that the emotional support animals have not been trained to perform a
specific job as required under the ADA.
Which of the following can pose a hindrance to termination?
a. Attachment and dependency
b. Addiction and denial
c. Anger and confrontation
d. Personalization and catastrophizing
a - Attachment and dependency can pose a hindrance when it is time for the counselor
and client to terminate the counseling relationship. Termination is the gradual approach
of moving towards the end of a therapeutic relationship. Termination takes places over
a period of time. The time to begin the termination process is usually signaled by the
fact that the client has reached their goals in counseling as well as gained a certain
level of psychological understanding and growth. Termination can be hindered if an
attachment has developed between the two parties. The two parties have developed a
fondness and enjoy spending time with each other. Also, if one of the two parties
develops a dependency on one or the other it can also pose a hindrance to healthy
termination. A fear of "being alone" or not having a support system can prevent a client
from accepting that it is time to terminate the counseling relationship or the ideal of the
loss of financial or personal gain on the part of the counselor can interfere with healthy
termination.
A male counselor takes extra measures to be self-aware when working with
female clients in therapy so that he does not apply inappropriate sex-role
stereotypes. This counselor is conscious about practicing:
a. Cognitive Behavior Therapy
b. Person-Centered Therapy
c. Gender-fair Therapy
d. Multi-cultural Therapy
c - Gender-fair therapy is the counseling of women that addresses the impact of
inappropriate sexrole stereotypes such as; women have lower self-esteem, women are
more emotional, women are more fearful, timid and anxious, women are less
aggressive than men. Gender-fair therapy realizes that there are no prescribed sex-role
behaviors. There is a focus on a heightened awareness of one's personal identity or
values as it pertains to the client's perception of their sex-roles. Genderfair therapy
understands that the reversal of traditional sex roles is not pathological and promotes
an awareness that anatomical differences are not a basis for theories of behavior. The
practice of gender-fair counseling includes the use of gender-fair language that does not
reflect, assign or impose stereotypical sex or gender roles.
Which of the following best demonstrates attending to group process?
a. Sarah, you are shaking your leg
b. Jessica, you said you had a solution. Can you share it?
c. Pamela, you just started picking your fingers when Samuel started talking
d. I'm noticing the time and group is over
c - Process involves noticing the dynamic between group members, with the group
serving as a social system. Attending to content happens when you notice something in
and of itself (leg shaking, verbalization, the time) without relating it to the dynamic of the
group.
, Generally speaking, group size with kids in relation to adult groups should be:
a. Larger
b. Smaller
c. About the same
b - Children's groups should be about half the size of adult groups.
Of the following, the most effective duration for a group is:
a. Ninety minutes
b. Forty-five minutes
c. Three hours
d. Half a day
a - Groups that run from 1-2 hours hold members' attention and allow for the most
therapeutic benefit.
You have just launched a successful therapy group and want to promote it to
engage new clients so they, too, can benefit. You have asked your current
therapy clients to offer an anonymous testimonial, telling others how useful it has
been. From an ethical standpoint, this is _____________.
a. prohibited under any circumstances
b. allowed since it is a successful group that would benefit future clients that may
join
c. allowed, only if they sign a voluntary testimonial release
d. prohibited unless they sign a voluntary testimonial release, use a pseudo-name
and do not provide a photo
a - The ACA Code of Ethics outlines that testimonials from clients, former clients or any
other person vulnerable to undue influence is prohibited
. You are a licensed professional counselor with a Master's degree in Counseling
and a doctorate (PhD) in Technology and Operations Management. On your
appointment cards for clients, the most appropriate way to list yourself is:
a. Jane Doe, MA, LPC
b. Dr. Jane Doe, LPC
c. Jane Doe, PhD
d. Dr. Jane Doe, PhD, LPC
a - According to the ACA Code of Ethics, when acting in a counselor context,
counselors may only use their highest degree earned in counseling and should not
imply doctorate-level competence unless their doctorate degree is in a clinical or related
field.
A client you have been seeing weekly for severe depression loses his job and his
insurance. He tells you that he would like to keep seeing you but can only afford
to come once a month. Ethically, the best choice is to:
a. Tell him to take a three-week break so you can explore referrals and fee
structures
b. Tell him he should continue to see you every week and ask him use his credit
card
c. See you save four hours a month for pro bono work, and the other three are
taken, see him for free on a once-monthly basis for as long as he's unemployed
so he won't have to go elsewhere
d. Explore referrals to a healthcare agency that sees patients on a sliding scale
