CALIFORNIA LCSW LAW & ETHICS EXAM
(2016 UPDATE) STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,A licensed therapist is also a certified Refuse because it is outside of her scope of
public accountant. In her therapy practice.
practice the therapist is treating a
woman with depression and anxiety
who has failed to pay her taxes the
past two years. One of her goals is to
pay her back taxes. The client asks to
bring her tax information to the next
session to have the therapist help her
figure it out. The therapist should:
A new client seeks treatment for Unethical because the therapist is working outside
alcohol addiction and depression his scope of competence.
after a break-up from a therapist in
private practice who specializes in
relationship issues. The therapist
agrees to see the client despite
having limited training in substance
use treatment. The behavior of the
therapist is:
A therapist should honor a client's the client is in danger of harming himself.
self-determination EXCEPT when:
In what scenario would a therapist A therapist is contacted by an adult patient who
NOT be required to obtain informed has suicidal ideation and a plan.
consent prior to the onset of
therapy?
A therapist arrives at his office and call the police and inform them of the name of the
finds that a client has broken in and is client.
looking through his files. The
therapist should:
,In what situations does a client NOT When a client files a malpractice suit against the
have privilege? therapist.
A therapist works as a consultant in a Make a child abuse report.
local preschool. During one of her
visits, she notices a three-year-old
girl with red marks across the back
of her legs. When she asks a teacher
about this, she is told that the child's
parents use "switches" to discipline
the child; the teachers assert that this
is a culturally sanctioned technique,
which is why it has not been
reported. What should the therapist
do NEXT?
A 73 year-old woman reports that An elder abuse report is optional
her daughter is constantly berating
her and threatening to lock her in the
closet. Is an elder abuse report
mandated or optional?
A client contacts a therapist for help Seek further clarification of the statement.
with his anger over his partner's
extramarital affair. During the initial
session, the client states he "will do
whatever it takes" to get even with his
partner. What should the therapist do
first?
, A family is referred for therapy by Son's risk of self harm.
their minister. The parents report that
their 14-year-old son has been found
drunk on two occasions. The son
responds, "I hate school. I get
bullied every day. You guys don't
care. You just pray." What should the
therapist assess NEXT?
A woman comes to therapy and Develop safety plan with client.
informs the therapist that she is being
physically abused by her husband.
She has marks on her face and
shares with you that their kids have
seen the husband be violent toward
her for the past 2 months. How
should the therapist respond?
A therapist meets with a client explore pros and cons of including the brother and
diagnosed with schizophrenia who is set appropriate boundaries.
brought in for the first session by her
brother. The brother informs the
therapist he was recently appointed
conservator by the court. The
brother would like to attend therapy
sessions with the client to ensure she
is providing the therapist with
accurate information and benefiting
from treatment. He explains that the
client has a history of lying to her
therapists. The therapist should:
(2016 UPDATE) STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,A licensed therapist is also a certified Refuse because it is outside of her scope of
public accountant. In her therapy practice.
practice the therapist is treating a
woman with depression and anxiety
who has failed to pay her taxes the
past two years. One of her goals is to
pay her back taxes. The client asks to
bring her tax information to the next
session to have the therapist help her
figure it out. The therapist should:
A new client seeks treatment for Unethical because the therapist is working outside
alcohol addiction and depression his scope of competence.
after a break-up from a therapist in
private practice who specializes in
relationship issues. The therapist
agrees to see the client despite
having limited training in substance
use treatment. The behavior of the
therapist is:
A therapist should honor a client's the client is in danger of harming himself.
self-determination EXCEPT when:
In what scenario would a therapist A therapist is contacted by an adult patient who
NOT be required to obtain informed has suicidal ideation and a plan.
consent prior to the onset of
therapy?
A therapist arrives at his office and call the police and inform them of the name of the
finds that a client has broken in and is client.
looking through his files. The
therapist should:
,In what situations does a client NOT When a client files a malpractice suit against the
have privilege? therapist.
A therapist works as a consultant in a Make a child abuse report.
local preschool. During one of her
visits, she notices a three-year-old
girl with red marks across the back
of her legs. When she asks a teacher
about this, she is told that the child's
parents use "switches" to discipline
the child; the teachers assert that this
is a culturally sanctioned technique,
which is why it has not been
reported. What should the therapist
do NEXT?
A 73 year-old woman reports that An elder abuse report is optional
her daughter is constantly berating
her and threatening to lock her in the
closet. Is an elder abuse report
mandated or optional?
A client contacts a therapist for help Seek further clarification of the statement.
with his anger over his partner's
extramarital affair. During the initial
session, the client states he "will do
whatever it takes" to get even with his
partner. What should the therapist do
first?
, A family is referred for therapy by Son's risk of self harm.
their minister. The parents report that
their 14-year-old son has been found
drunk on two occasions. The son
responds, "I hate school. I get
bullied every day. You guys don't
care. You just pray." What should the
therapist assess NEXT?
A woman comes to therapy and Develop safety plan with client.
informs the therapist that she is being
physically abused by her husband.
She has marks on her face and
shares with you that their kids have
seen the husband be violent toward
her for the past 2 months. How
should the therapist respond?
A therapist meets with a client explore pros and cons of including the brother and
diagnosed with schizophrenia who is set appropriate boundaries.
brought in for the first session by her
brother. The brother informs the
therapist he was recently appointed
conservator by the court. The
brother would like to attend therapy
sessions with the client to ensure she
is providing the therapist with
accurate information and benefiting
from treatment. He explains that the
client has a history of lying to her
therapists. The therapist should:
