MFT Professional Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An MFT discovers that a supervisee has been engaging in a dual relationship with a client. The supervisor's ethical obligation is to:
- Ignore the issue since the supervisee is autonomous
- Address the behavior directly and take corrective action (Correct answer)
- Report the supervisee immediately to authorities without discussion
- Transfer all of the supervisee's clients to other therapists
Correct answer: Address the behavior directly and take corrective action
Supervisors are ethically responsible for the conduct of supervisees and must directly address and remediate ethical violations.
Question 2: Which situation most clearly represents a boundary violation in MFT practice?
- Providing a client with a referral list
- Accepting an expensive gift from a client to avoid hurting their feelings (Correct answer)
- Adjusting session fees due to a client's financial hardship
- Attending a client's public community event
Correct answer: Accepting an expensive gift from a client to avoid hurting their feelings
Accepting expensive gifts from clients creates a problematic boundary crossing that can distort the therapeutic relationship.
Question 3: A client calls their MFT therapist at 2 a.m. non-urgently to chat. The most appropriate response is to:
- Engage in the conversation to build rapport
- Answer briefly and bill for the session
- Set a clear limit and discuss boundaries at the next session (Correct answer)
- Terminate therapy for boundary violations
Correct answer: Set a clear limit and discuss boundaries at the next session
Maintaining clear professional boundaries includes clarifying appropriate contact parameters and addressing boundary issues therapeutically.
Question 4: Mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse is required when an MFT:
- Has absolute proof of abuse
- Has a reasonable suspicion based on observed indicators (Correct answer)
- Receives a direct admission from the child
- Is ordered by the court to report
Correct answer: Has a reasonable suspicion based on observed indicators
Mandatory reporting laws in all U.S. states require reporting based on reasonable suspicion, not confirmed evidence.
Question 5: An MFT wants to use a clinical case in a journal article. To protect client confidentiality, the therapist must:
- Change identifying details and obtain written consent or use a composite (Correct answer)
- Obtain consent only if the client reads academic journals
- Simply omit the client's last name
- Notify the licensing board before publishing
Correct answer: Change identifying details and obtain written consent or use a composite
Publishing case material requires either written client consent or sufficient disguise of identifying information to prevent recognition.
Question 6: What is the primary ethical concern with a therapist providing therapy to a close friend?
- The therapist cannot bill insurance for the friend
- The pre-existing relationship compromises therapeutic objectivity and boundaries (Correct answer)
- Friends cannot provide informed consent
- Scheduling is typically more difficult
Correct answer: The pre-existing relationship compromises therapeutic objectivity and boundaries
Prior personal relationships create dual relationships that impair therapeutic objectivity and blur professional boundaries.
Question 7: When an MFT disagrees with a client's autonomous decision that is legal but potentially self-harmful, the appropriate stance is to:
- Withhold services until the client changes the decision
- Report the client to adult protective services
- Respect client autonomy while expressing concern and exploring the decision therapeutically (Correct answer)
- Transfer the case to a therapist who agrees with the client
Correct answer: Respect client autonomy while expressing concern and exploring the decision therapeutically
Respecting client autonomy means supporting the right to make personal decisions while therapeutically exploring concerns about potential self-harm.
MFT Professional Ethics 3
An MFT discovers that a supervisee has been engaging in a dual relationship with a client.
The supervisor's ethical obligation is to: