LSP Ethics & Professional Practice — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a dual relationship in psychology and why is it problematic?
- When a psychologist has a professional and personal relationship with the same person, creating conflicts of interest (Correct answer)
- Having two clients with the same name
- Working in two different clinical settings
- Providing both assessment and therapy to the same client
Correct answer: When a psychologist has a professional and personal relationship with the same person, creating conflicts of interest
Dual (multiple) relationships exist when a psychologist has a professional role with a client and simultaneously has another relationship (friend, business partner, romantic interest), which can impair objectivity and exploit the power differential.
Question 2: What does the APA Ethics Code say about competence?
- Psychologists must practice only within the boundaries of their competence based on education, training, and supervised experience (Correct answer)
- Psychologists can practice in any area of psychology
- Competence is only required for assessment, not therapy
- There are no specific competence requirements
Correct answer: Psychologists must practice only within the boundaries of their competence based on education, training, and supervised experience
The APA Ethics Code requires psychologists to provide services only in areas where they have appropriate education, training, supervised experience, or other qualifying credentials, and to seek additional training when needed.
Question 3: What is the Tarasoff ruling and its impact on psychology practice?
- A court decision establishing that therapists have a duty to protect identifiable potential victims of their clients' violent threats (Correct answer)
- A ruling about patient privacy rights
- A decision about insurance coverage for therapy
- A ruling about licensing requirements for psychologists
Correct answer: A court decision establishing that therapists have a duty to protect identifiable potential victims of their clients' violent threats
Tarasoff v. Regents of University of California (1976) established that when a therapist determines a patient poses a serious threat to an identifiable third party, the therapist has a duty to protect that potential victim.
Question 4: What is mandatory reporting and when does it apply to psychologists?
- The legal requirement to report suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of vulnerable adults to authorities (Correct answer)
- Reporting all therapy sessions to the state licensing board
- Filing annual income reports with the APA
- Reporting every client diagnosis to insurance companies
Correct answer: The legal requirement to report suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of vulnerable adults to authorities
All states require psychologists to report suspected abuse or neglect of children, and many states extend this to elderly and dependent adults. Failure to report can result in criminal penalties and license revocation.
Question 5: What is the standard of care in psychology?
- The level of care, skill, and treatment recognized as acceptable by reasonably competent professionals in similar circumstances (Correct answer)
- The lowest acceptable level of care
- A government-set minimum for therapy duration
- The most expensive treatment available
Correct answer: The level of care, skill, and treatment recognized as acceptable by reasonably competent professionals in similar circumstances
Standard of care refers to what a reasonably competent psychologist with similar training would do in comparable circumstances. Falling below this standard can constitute malpractice.
Question 6: What are the limits of confidentiality that must be disclosed to clients?
- Duty to warn/protect, mandated reporting, court orders, supervision needs, and billing/insurance requirements (Correct answer)
- There are no limits to confidentiality
- Only court orders limit confidentiality
- Confidentiality limits apply only to children
Correct answer: Duty to warn/protect, mandated reporting, court orders, supervision needs, and billing/insurance requirements
Psychologists must inform clients during the initial session about situations where confidentiality may be breached, including danger to self/others, child/elder abuse, court orders, and insurance/billing necessities.
LSP Ethics & Professional Practice
What is a dual relationship in psychology and why is it problematic?