Scope of Practice Flashcards

An Oklahoma LPC who has completed advanced training in EMDR wishes to begin using this technique with trauma clients. This is:

Answer: Appropriate because the LPC has obtained the required training for this evidence-based technique

Evidence-based techniques such as EMDR fall within the LPC scope of practice when the counselor has obtained the appropriate training. The scope of practice is defined by the counselor's competence, not by a specific list of approved techniques.

An Oklahoma LPC in private practice learns that one of their clients is also receiving services from a chiropractor who has advised the client to discontinue their psychiatric medication. The LPC should:

Answer: Address the situation with the client, encourage consultation with their prescribing provider, and coordinate care appropriately

When a client is receiving advice that may conflict with their mental health treatment, the LPC should address it therapeutically, encourage the client to consult with their prescribing physician, and coordinate care to protect the client's wellbeing.

An Oklahoma LPC is asked to conduct a fitness-for-duty evaluation for an employer. Before accepting this referral, the counselor should consider:

Answer: Whether they have the forensic and assessment training for this specialized role, and whether the evaluation creates role conflicts

Fitness-for-duty evaluations are specialized forensic assessments with specific ethical and legal requirements. The counselor must consider their competence for this role and whether accepting it creates ethical conflicts.

A client asks their Oklahoma LPC to hypnotize them as part of treatment. The counselor's obligation is to:

Answer: Proceed only if the counselor has appropriate training and the technique is clinically indicated

Hypnosis is a technique that can be within the LPC's scope of practice when the counselor has obtained appropriate training. Clinical indication and client informed consent are also required.

An Oklahoma LPC working with a client who has a substance use disorder wants to help the client access medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. The LPC can best help by:

Answer: Coordinating a referral to a physician or advanced practice provider who can prescribe MAT while continuing to provide counseling support

Prescribing MAT such as buprenorphine is a medical intervention that requires a DEA registration and physician training. LPCs facilitate access to MAT through referral while providing the counseling component of comprehensive addiction treatment.

An Oklahoma LPC is asked to provide trauma counseling to a client who is also filing a personal injury lawsuit related to the traumatic event. Before agreeing to serve as both the treating therapist and a potential expert witness, the counselor should:

Answer: Decline to serve as an expert witness in the client's case to avoid the treatment-forensic role conflict

Serving as both the treating therapist and an expert witness for the same client creates a serious dual relationship that compromises both roles. The treating therapist should provide treatment only, and a separate independent evaluator should serve as the expert witness.