Ethical Standards & Professional Practice Flashcards

A client discloses during an anger management session that they plan to physically harm a neighbor next week. What is the specialist's primary ethical obligation?

Answer: Issue a duty-to-warn notification to the intended victim and authorities

Under the duty-to-protect doctrine (Tarasoff), specialists must warn identifiable third parties and notify law enforcement when clients pose a credible, imminent threat.

Which scenario represents a boundary violation rather than a boundary crossing in anger management practice?

Answer: Entering a dual romantic relationship with a former client six months post-discharge

A romantic relationship with a former client, especially within two years of discharge, is a boundary violation that exploits the therapeutic relationship.

A CSAM practitioner works in a correctional facility where administration requests weekly anger-level ratings on all clients to inform parole decisions. What ethical issue is most salient?

Answer: Dual-role conflict between therapist and evaluator

Acting simultaneously as treatment provider and forensic evaluator creates a dual-role conflict that compromises therapeutic alliance and client candor.

When obtaining informed consent for anger management services, which element is most critical to document specifically?

Answer: Limits of confidentiality, including mandatory reporting obligations

Clients must understand precisely when confidentiality will be breached so they can make autonomous decisions about what to disclose.

A certified anger management specialist has no training in trauma-focused therapy but a referral source insists the specialist also address a client's PTSD. What is the ethical course of action?

Answer: Decline the trauma component and refer to a trauma-trained clinician

Practicing outside one's competence boundary violates the ethical principle of non-maleficence; the specialist should coordinate care with a qualified trauma provider.

A practitioner learns that a colleague is routinely falsifying anger management completion certificates without delivering sessions. What is the appropriate first step?

Answer: Confront the colleague directly and encourage voluntary self-reporting

Most ethical codes require practitioners to first address concerns directly with the colleague before escalating to licensing boards or authorities.

Under HIPAA, which action is permissible without client authorization when treating anger management clients?

Answer: Coordinating care by sending treatment summaries to co-treating providers

HIPAA's treatment exception permits sharing protected health information among treating providers without written authorization to facilitate coordinated care.