5/1/26, 7:11 NPDES Exam
AM
CPCE Exam 2026 Study Guide | 238 Verified Questions &
Answers | Counseling Theories, DSM-5 Disorders, Ethics,
Assessment & CACREP Prep.
When beginning a counseling relationship, you are ethically required to
Inform the patient of the limits of confidentiality
As you begin a counseling relationship, it is important to
jointly decide, between patient and counselor, how the counseling process will proceed
A client arrives for counseling with the presenting complaint of relationship difficulties.
She goes on to describe that she has had multiple abortions, and seems to use abortion as
a birth control method. You are personally opposed to abortion. How should your personal
beliefs impact the therapeutic relationship?
Your personal belief system should not have any bearing on the therapeutic relationship
You have been involved in a counseling relationship with a client for six months, when he
presents you with a small gift. What should you do?
Accept or decline depending on the circumstances
You are court-ordered to disclose confidential information about a client you are
counseling. What do you do?
Limit, as much as possible, any possibly damaging personal information and obtain
written permission from your client to share confidential information
What should you do if your client requests to see his confidential file?
Accept or decline depending upon circumstances
You are a counselor with several clients, and at the same time you are adjusting to a
difficult divorce. You aren't sleeping or eating well, find you are highly distractible, and
generally are less in-touch with your emotional state. You should...
Be alert to your mental status, and be able to determine if continuing with your clients
poses any threat of being detrimental to the counseling process
1/29
,5/1/26, 7:11 NPDES Exam
AM
A former client of yours has been arrested for a crime. As his former counselor, you are
called to perform a forensic evaluation. What is your responsibility in this case?
2/29
, 5/1/26, 7:11 NPDES Exam
AM
It is not considered ethical to perform a forensic evaluation on a current or past client,
so you should decline
You are the supervisor for a new counselor, and are asked to attend her wedding. Would it
be ethical to do so?
Yes, you should be able to attend her wedding without a breach of ethics
While involved with a research study, you learn that several of your students are using
confidential material in an unethical manner. You had no prior knowledge of this, and all of
your safeguards for professional practice were appropriate. Are you, as the principal
researcher, responsible for the student's behavior
Yes, you are ultimately responsible
When publishing research, it is important to
Give credit to other contributors or sources, not plagiarize, and submit material to
only one journal at a time
When a conflict arises between the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics
and a governing authority, which takes precedence?
Ultimately the law may be adhered to over the Code of Ethics
An ethics violation should NOT be reported when
A counselor has been retained to review another counselor who is in question; and
when confidentiality rights would be violated
What does multicultural/diversity counseling refer to?
Counseling that recognizes diversity and approaches beneficial to specific groups and an
approach that all counselors should ethically be aware of
Most ethical issues are related to
Confidentiality
Only one psychoanalyst's developmental theory covers the entire lifespan. Who is he?
Erik Erikson
3/29
AM
CPCE Exam 2026 Study Guide | 238 Verified Questions &
Answers | Counseling Theories, DSM-5 Disorders, Ethics,
Assessment & CACREP Prep.
When beginning a counseling relationship, you are ethically required to
Inform the patient of the limits of confidentiality
As you begin a counseling relationship, it is important to
jointly decide, between patient and counselor, how the counseling process will proceed
A client arrives for counseling with the presenting complaint of relationship difficulties.
She goes on to describe that she has had multiple abortions, and seems to use abortion as
a birth control method. You are personally opposed to abortion. How should your personal
beliefs impact the therapeutic relationship?
Your personal belief system should not have any bearing on the therapeutic relationship
You have been involved in a counseling relationship with a client for six months, when he
presents you with a small gift. What should you do?
Accept or decline depending on the circumstances
You are court-ordered to disclose confidential information about a client you are
counseling. What do you do?
Limit, as much as possible, any possibly damaging personal information and obtain
written permission from your client to share confidential information
What should you do if your client requests to see his confidential file?
Accept or decline depending upon circumstances
You are a counselor with several clients, and at the same time you are adjusting to a
difficult divorce. You aren't sleeping or eating well, find you are highly distractible, and
generally are less in-touch with your emotional state. You should...
Be alert to your mental status, and be able to determine if continuing with your clients
poses any threat of being detrimental to the counseling process
1/29
,5/1/26, 7:11 NPDES Exam
AM
A former client of yours has been arrested for a crime. As his former counselor, you are
called to perform a forensic evaluation. What is your responsibility in this case?
2/29
, 5/1/26, 7:11 NPDES Exam
AM
It is not considered ethical to perform a forensic evaluation on a current or past client,
so you should decline
You are the supervisor for a new counselor, and are asked to attend her wedding. Would it
be ethical to do so?
Yes, you should be able to attend her wedding without a breach of ethics
While involved with a research study, you learn that several of your students are using
confidential material in an unethical manner. You had no prior knowledge of this, and all of
your safeguards for professional practice were appropriate. Are you, as the principal
researcher, responsible for the student's behavior
Yes, you are ultimately responsible
When publishing research, it is important to
Give credit to other contributors or sources, not plagiarize, and submit material to
only one journal at a time
When a conflict arises between the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics
and a governing authority, which takes precedence?
Ultimately the law may be adhered to over the Code of Ethics
An ethics violation should NOT be reported when
A counselor has been retained to review another counselor who is in question; and
when confidentiality rights would be violated
What does multicultural/diversity counseling refer to?
Counseling that recognizes diversity and approaches beneficial to specific groups and an
approach that all counselors should ethically be aware of
Most ethical issues are related to
Confidentiality
Only one psychoanalyst's developmental theory covers the entire lifespan. Who is he?
Erik Erikson
3/29
