NCMHCE Domain 1: Professional Practice and Ethics Welcome to your NCMHCE Domain 1: Professional Practice and Ethics 1. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics A client reveals during a session that they are contemplating harming a specific individual. What is the therapist's ethical obligation in this situation? Maintain confidentiality at all costs to respect the client's privacy. Seek supervision to discuss the case without breaching confidentiality. Warn the potential victim and notify law enforcement authorities. Encourage the client to self-report to the police. None 2. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics When a client's record is requested by a third party, under which circumstance is it ethical for a counselor to release the information without the client's written consent? When the counselor believes the information will benefit the client's treatment by another professional. When the information is requested by a well-known and reputable research institution for academic purposes. Under a court order or subpoena demanding the release of the records. When discussing the case with colleagues for educational purposes. None 3. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics A counselor discovers that a colleague has been practicing outside of their area of competence. What is the most appropriate initial action? Report the colleague to the state licensing board immediately. Discuss the concern directly with the colleague. Inform the employer or supervisor of the colleague's actions. Advise clients to file complaints if they feel harmed. None 4. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics In which situation is it ethically permissible for a counselor to engage in a dual relationship with a client? When the dual relationship is unavoidable and can be managed professionally. If the counselor finds it beneficial to the therapeutic relationship. When the client gives consent after being informed of potential risks. If the dual relationship occurs in a small or rural community where such interactions are inevitable. None 5. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics A counselor is subpoenaed to testify in court about a client who is involved in a custody battle. The client does not want any information shared. How should the counselor proceed? Refuse to testify, citing client-counselor confidentiality. Testify, sharing all information relevant to the custody case. Seek legal consultation to understand the obligations and protect client confidentiality as much as possible. Ask the client to provide written consent to share specific information. None 6. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics A counselor learns that another therapist is engaging in unethical behavior with clients. What is the first step the counselor should take according to ethical guidelines? Confront the therapist directly about the behavior. Report the behavior to the appropriate professional organization. Discuss the behavior with a supervisor or an ethical review board. Advise the affected clients to seek legal counsel. None 7. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics What is the ethical course of action if a counselor realizes they have developed romantic feelings for a client? Immediately terminate the therapeutic relationship and refer the client to another counselor. Discuss the feelings with the client as part of the therapeutic process. Seek supervision or consultation to address and manage the feelings professionally. Wait until therapy has concluded to explore the possibility of a relationship. None 8. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics When is it ethically justified for a counselor to terminate services with a client? If the counselor feels personally uncomfortable with the client's issues. When the client no longer benefits from the services. If the client fails to pay for sessions on time. When the counselor moves to a different area and cannot continue the services. None 9. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics A counselor is using a new therapeutic technique that is considered experimental. What is the ethical requirement for proceeding with this technique? Proceed only with the consent of the client after fully informing them of the experimental nature of the technique. Use the technique only if it has been proven effective in peer-reviewed research. Implement the technique as a last resort when traditional methods have failed. Ensure the technique is endorsed by a reputable professional counseling organization. None 10. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics What is an ethical consideration when providing counseling services through electronic means (e-therapy)? Ensuring the client is aware of the limitations and potential risks associated with e-therapy. Using e-therapy only with clients who are technologically savvy. Limiting e-therapy to clients who have minor mental health issues. Providing e-therapy services only as a supplement to in-person sessions. None 11. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics A counselor is treating a minor. Who has the right to access the treatment records? Only the minor, as they are the client. Only the parents or legal guardians, regardless of the minor's wishes. Both the minor and the parents, but the counselor can exercise discretion based on what is in the minor's best interest. The minor, parents, and legal authorities with a court order. None 12. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics What is the appropriate response when a counselor discovers a conflict of interest after beginning treatment with a client? Continue the treatment while trying to minimize the conflict. Transfer the client to another counselor immediately without explanation. Address the conflict openly with the client and refer them to another professional if necessary. Ignore the conflict unless the client notices and brings it up. None 13. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics A counselor is asked to provide a character witness in a legal case for a current client. How should they respond? Agree to provide a character witness, as it may benefit the client. Decline, explaining that doing so could compromise the therapeutic relationship. Accept only if subpoenaed by the court. Offer to provide a written statement instead of appearing in court. None 14. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics How should a counselor ethically handle a situation where they possess advance knowledge of a client's legal case that could influence the outcome? Use the information to the client's advantage in therapy sessions. Keep the information confidential and not allow it to influence the therapeutic process. Disclose the information to the court to ensure a fair trial. Discuss the information with the client to decide together how to proceed. None 15. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics When a counselor suspects that a colleague has violated ethical standards, but is not certain, what is the best course of action? Report the colleague to the ethics committee immediately. Gather more evidence before taking any action. Confront the colleague directly to seek clarification. Consult with a supervisor or an ethics committee for guidance without revealing the colleague's identity. None 16. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics A client requests their therapy notes for a court case in which they are involved. What should the counselor consider before complying with the request? Whether the notes contain sensitive information that could harm the client if disclosed. If the client has paid for all sessions, as this may affect the decision to release the notes. The possibility of altering the notes to make them more favorable for the client's case. The therapist's personal feelings about the client's legal situation. None 17. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics In a group therapy setting, what is the counselor's ethical responsibility regarding confidentiality among group members? Ensure that all members sign a contract agreeing not to disclose information shared within the group. Inform members that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in a group setting. Monitor members outside of therapy to ensure they maintain confidentiality. Only allow clients who know each other to participate in the same group. None 18. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics What ethical guidelines should a counselor follow when managing their professional social media presence? Use social media to promote client successes as examples of effective therapy. Keep personal and professional profiles separate to maintain professional boundaries. Accept friend requests from current clients to foster a supportive community. Share therapeutic advice broadly to attract potential clients. None 19. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics A counselor receives a gift of handmade artwork from a client expressing gratitude. What factors should the counselor consider before accepting the gift? The monetary value of the artwork. The client's cultural background and the meaning of gift-giving within that context. Whether accepting the gift could lead to additional sessions. The possibility of using the gift as part of the client's therapy. None 20. NCMHCE: Professional Practice and Ethics How should a counselor proceed when they realize that a therapeutic approach is not benefiting a client as expected? Continue with the current approach, assuming that progress takes time. Terminate therapy, suggesting that the client is not ready to change. Adjust the therapeutic approach and discuss the changes with the client. Refer the client to another therapist without attempting to modify the approach. None 1 out of 20 Time is Up! Time's up
