LCDC Professional and Ethical Responsibilities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under mandatory reporting laws, an LCDC is required to report which of the following?
- Reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect (Correct answer)
- Client relapse
- Client non-compliance with treatment
- Client criminal history
Correct answer: Reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect
All US states require mandatory reporters, including LCDCs, to report reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect to child protective services.
Question 2: The ethical principle of nonmaleficence in counseling means:
- Avoiding actions that cause harm to the client (Correct answer)
- Providing the maximum number of available services
- Treating all clients equally regardless of need
- Following all client requests without question
Correct answer: Avoiding actions that cause harm to the client
Nonmaleficence requires counselors to refrain from actions that could harm clients, either through incompetent practice or ethical violations.
Question 3: Which scenario represents a violation of professional boundaries?
- Accepting a substantial gift from a grateful client in recovery (Correct answer)
- Discussing a client's progress in clinical supervision
- Using an evidence-based intervention not covered by insurance
- Referring a client to a specialist outside the program
Correct answer: Accepting a substantial gift from a grateful client in recovery
Accepting significant gifts from clients creates a boundary violation that can impair objectivity and exploit the power differential in the therapeutic relationship.
Question 4: Continuing education requirements for LCDC licensure renewal primarily serve to:
- Ensure counselors maintain current knowledge and skills consistent with evolving evidence-based practices (Correct answer)
- Generate revenue for licensing boards
- Satisfy administrative requirements without clinical relevance
- Fulfill insurance credentialing requirements only
Correct answer: Ensure counselors maintain current knowledge and skills consistent with evolving evidence-based practices
Continuing education requirements ensure that LCDCs remain current with evolving research, treatment standards, and ethical guidelines.
Question 5: If a counselor suspects a colleague is impaired by substance use during work hours, the ethical obligation is to:
- Report concerns through appropriate channels to protect client safety (Correct answer)
- Ignore the behavior to maintain collegial relationships
- Confront the colleague privately and take no further action
- Document observations but wait to see if the behavior improves
Correct answer: Report concerns through appropriate channels to protect client safety
Client safety takes precedence; ethical practice requires reporting colleague impairment through supervisory or administrative channels.
Question 6: The ethical principle of justice in counseling requires:
- Providing fair and equitable treatment regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status (Correct answer)
- Treating all clients identically regardless of individual need
- Prioritizing clients who are most likely to succeed in recovery
- Allocating services based on ability to pay
Correct answer: Providing fair and equitable treatment regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status
Justice requires equitable access to quality care and non-discriminatory treatment for all clients regardless of personal characteristics.
LCDC Professional and Ethical Responsibilities 2
Under mandatory reporting laws, an LCDC is required to report which of the following?