LSP Ethics & Professional Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the psychologist's obligation regarding record keeping?
- Maintaining accurate, current, and secure clinical records for a specified retention period as required by law and ethics (Correct answer)
- Records are optional in private practice
- Only assessment results need to be documented
- Records can be destroyed immediately after therapy ends
Correct answer: Maintaining accurate, current, and secure clinical records for a specified retention period as required by law and ethics
Psychologists must maintain thorough clinical records including intake information, treatment plans, progress notes, and correspondence. Records must be stored securely and retained for the period required by state law.
Question 2: What should a psychologist do when they recognize signs of professional impairment in themselves?
- Seek appropriate support, limit or suspend practice activities that may be affected, and consult with colleagues (Correct answer)
- Continue practicing and hope the impairment resolves
- Increase their caseload to stay busy
- Transfer all clients without explanation
Correct answer: Seek appropriate support, limit or suspend practice activities that may be affected, and consult with colleagues
The APA Ethics Code requires psychologists to recognize when personal problems may affect their competence and take appropriate steps including seeking professional help, reducing workload, or temporarily suspending practice.
Question 3: What is cultural competence in psychological practice?
- The ability to work effectively with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds by understanding and respecting cultural differences (Correct answer)
- Speaking multiple languages
- Having traveled to many countries
- Only treating clients from one's own cultural background
Correct answer: The ability to work effectively with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds by understanding and respecting cultural differences
Cultural competence involves awareness of one's own cultural biases, knowledge of diverse cultural practices and worldviews, and skills in adapting assessment and treatment approaches to be culturally appropriate.
Question 4: What is the ethical principle of beneficence in psychology?
- The obligation to act in the best interest of clients and to maximize benefits while minimizing harm (Correct answer)
- The requirement to charge fair fees
- The duty to share research findings
- The obligation to testify in court
Correct answer: The obligation to act in the best interest of clients and to maximize benefits while minimizing harm
Beneficence requires psychologists to actively promote the welfare of those they serve, striving to benefit clients through competent practice while being vigilant about potential harm from their interventions.
Question 5: What are the ethical considerations for telepsychology?
- Ensuring confidentiality of electronic communications, verifying client identity, knowing licensing laws for the client's location, and obtaining informed consent for the medium (Correct answer)
- There are no special ethical considerations for telepsychology
- Only the psychologist's home state laws apply
- Telepsychology has the same requirements as in-person practice
Correct answer: Ensuring confidentiality of electronic communications, verifying client identity, knowing licensing laws for the client's location, and obtaining informed consent for the medium
Telepsychology involves unique considerations including ensuring HIPAA-compliant technology, understanding cross-jurisdictional licensing, emergency planning for remote clients, and addressing the limitations of virtual service delivery.
Question 6: What is the ethical obligation regarding termination of therapy?
- Psychologists must provide appropriate termination and referrals when treatment is no longer needed or beneficial, avoiding abandonment (Correct answer)
- Psychologists can end therapy at any time without notice
- Termination planning is optional
- Only clients can initiate termination
Correct answer: Psychologists must provide appropriate termination and referrals when treatment is no longer needed or beneficial, avoiding abandonment
Ethical termination requires advance notice, discussion of progress, provision of referrals when appropriate, and ensuring the client is not abandoned. Psychologists should plan for termination from the beginning of treatment.
LSP Ethics & Professional Practice 2
What is the psychologist's obligation regarding record keeping?