Client Intake & Interview Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Client Intake & Interview Ethics flashcards as text
When interviewing multiple witnesses from the same household, what is the best practice to ensure unbiased accounts?
Answer: Interview each witness separately before they discuss the events with each other
Separate interviews prevent witnesses from influencing each other's accounts, preserving the integrity of individual testimonies.
A client requests that no male investigators enter their home due to personal beliefs. How should the team respond?
Answer: Accommodate the request if possible, respecting the client's autonomy
Respecting client autonomy and personal boundaries is a core ethical obligation, even if accommodating requests requires adjusting team composition.
What does 'natural explanation first' mean in the context of client intake?
Answer: Investigators should consider and rule out ordinary explanations before concluding activity is paranormal
Responsible investigators systematically eliminate mundane causes such as structural, environmental, or psychological factors before attributing activity to paranormal sources.
An investigator discovers during intake that a client is being charged rent by a landlord who has fabricated a haunting story. What is the ethical course of action?
Answer: Encourage the client to seek legal advice and consider reporting the situation to authorities
Investigators should support the client's wellbeing by directing them to appropriate legal resources rather than inserting themselves into a legal dispute.
Why should investigators avoid using leading questions during client interviews?
Answer: They can bias the client's responses and contaminate the witness account
Leading questions suggest the expected answer, which can skew testimony and reduce its evidentiary value.
A client asks the investigator to perform a cleansing or blessing after the investigation. What is the ethical stance?
Answer: Inform the client of the team's capabilities and refer to appropriate spiritual or religious contacts if outside scope
Investigators should be honest about their scope of practice and refer clients to qualified spiritual or religious practitioners for cleansings or blessings.
Which of the following is a red flag that a client may need mental health support rather than a paranormal investigation?
Answer: The client expresses persistent fear of being followed or harmed by supernatural entities affecting their daily functioning
When reported activity significantly impairs daily functioning or involves paranoid ideation, referral to a mental health professional is the responsible course of action.