Question 1
Answer D is correct: Section 15610 states that a mandated reporter who "in his or her professional capacity within the scope of his or her employment, has observed or has knowledge of an incident that reasonably appears to be physical abuse, abandonment, abduction, isolation, financial abuse, or neglect ... shall report the known or suspected abuse." A mandated reporter may report other types of abuse (e.g., emotional abuse) but is not required to do so.
Question 2
Answer B is correct. A person can act as a conservator of the person and or or a conservator of the estate.
Question 3
Answer C is correct. The welfare of the client is of primary importance, and he needs to know that the therapist's behavior is unethical and illegal and to be informed of his legal rights and options. This includes giving the client the brochure, "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex" and discussing its contents with him.
Question 4
Answer A is correct: The MFT is legally required to make a report of elder abuse in the manner described in this answer because she has reasonable suspicion that the daughter is physically abusing her mother.
Question 5
Answer A is correct. This answer does not preclude telling the couple your marital status and is the best answer because exploring the significance of your marital status for them provides you with an opportunity to learn something about your clients, such as their beliefs, values, or presuppositions about therapists.
Question 6
Answer C is correct. When a client communicates a serious threat of physical harm to a reasonably identifiable victim, you have a duty to protect the intended victim by notifying the victim, contacting the police, or taking whatever other steps are necessary. However, in the situation described in this question, the information has come from an anonymous source, and you have no information about the intended victim or about Bob's degree of dangerousness. Therefore, the best course of action would be to discuss what you learned with Bob in order to determine if he poses a serious threat of physical harm to anyone.
Question 7
Answer B is correct. Ordinarily, you can provide therapy only to individuals who are physically located in the state in which you are licensed. However, many states have temporary or guest practice laws that allow therapists licensed in other states to provide therapy for a brief specified period of time to individuals physically located in those states. Therefore, this is the best answer of those given.
Question 8
Answer A is correct. You must report to CPS because you have sufficient information to suspect that a person 21 years of age or older has engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 16.
Question 9
Answer B is correct. This question describes a possible Tarasoff situation (duty to protect), and this is the best answer of those given. You are obligated to gather sufficient information about the intended victim and plan and to assess the level of risk. If there is an identifiable victim and the risk for violence is high, you would then notify the victim or victims and the police. The word "report" is not technically correct, but this is the best answer offered.
Question 10
Answer D is correct. Publication credit is addressed in Principle 7.2 of the CAMFT Code of Ethics. It states: "Marriage and family therapists assign publication credit to those who have contributed to a publication in proportion to their contributions and in accordance with customary professional publication."
Question 11
Answer D is correct. An arrest warrant does not constitute an exception to privilege. Providing any information about the client in this situation - including the fact that he or she is a client of yours - would require either a signed authorization from the client or a court order.
Question 12
Answer B is correct. Privilege is a legal term that refers to a client’s right not to have confidential information revealed in a legal proceeding without the permission of the client or his or her legal representative. It refers to the "psychotherapist-patient privilege" which is established by EC Section 1014 and includes LMFTs and MFT trainees and interns as "psychotherapists."
Question 13
Answer A is correct. This answer is the best one because it is most consistent with ethical guidelines: CAMFT Ethical Principle 1.4 states that MFTs "respect the right of patients to make decisions ... [and] advise their patients that decisions on the status of their personal relationships, including dissolution, are the responsibilities of the patient(s). And Principle 1.5 states that MFTs "provide adequate information to patients in clear and understandable language so that patients can make meaningful decisions about their therapy."
Question 14
Answer D is correct. CAMFT Ethical Principle 2.6 applies to this situation. It states: "Marriage and family therapists use clinical materials in teaching, writing, and public presentations only if a written authorization has been previously obtained ... or when appropriate steps have been taken to protect patient identity." Since the recordings are video recordings, it would not be possible to disguise the identities of the clients depicted in the recordings, so written authorization from them would be required.
Question 15
Answer B is correct. Parents generally have the right to access their minor child's records. However, this access is restricted when (a) the minor has access to the records because he or she was legally able to consent to his or her own treatment or (b) release of the records would have a detrimental effect on the therapeutic relationship or on the minor's safety or psychological well-being. In this situation, reason "a" applies since the minor client legally consented to treatment.
