MFT LAW AND ETHICS EXAM QUESTION BANK
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| 2025 CURRENTLY TESTING ACCURATE REAL E
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XAM QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS GR
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ADED A+ | GUARANTEED EXCELLENCE PASS n n n n n
A therapist is currently involved in a contentious custody battle with her ex-
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nhusband and perceives her spouse as hostile and unreasonable. The therapist begi
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ns meeting weekly with a peer for consultation to prevent her frustrations from im
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pacting therapy with her clients. A month later, a client who has been in ongoing th
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
erapy for symptoms of panic disorder and anxiety begins describing relationship dif
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ficulties that are similar to what the therapist is experiencing.
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Which of the following actions should the therapist take to manage the ethical issu
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es involved in this case?
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Response:
A. Contain the therapist's own feelings and focus discussions on the client's
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depression to maintain consistency with established treatment goals.
n n n n n n n
B. Provide continued treatment to the client and discuss the case with the
n n n n n n n n n n n n
colleague to monitor own feelings. n n n n
C. Utilize limited self-disclosure and reassure the client of the therapist's und -
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✔✔✔ Correct Answer > B Rationale: The best answer is B. Therapists should seek
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
nconsultation when they identify issues interfering with treatment. It is clear in t
n n n n n n n n n n n n
his case that the therapist's personal situation is affecting her work with this clie
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
nt, so she should seek consultation. Seeking personal therapy may be an option t
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
he therapist pursues, however, referring client out is too extreme, making D inco
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rrect.
,A 17-year-
n
old is receiving therapy at school. He shares that he is having a lot of problems wit
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
h his new 15-year-
n n n
old girlfriend. He states, "sometimes she drives me so crazy, I just want to smack h
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
er. If I try to leave, she pleads for me to stay. I just don't know how to deal with her
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
moods." How should the therapist manage the legal and ethical obligations in this
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
case?
Response:
A. Maintain confidentiality and document incident in record.n n n n n n
B. File a child abuse report and process it with client.
n n n n n n n n n
C. Contact the police because of potential for harm.n n n n n n n
D. Maintain confidentiality and role play with client to identify better coping strate
n n n n n n n n n n n
gies. - n
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > ...Rationale: The best answer is A. The client has express
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ed conflict with his girlfriend, which does not require a report. In this case, we wo
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
uld maintain confidentiality. If the client said he hit her, then we would report. R
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ole playing (D) is a good intervention to use, but does not answer the question of
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
managing legal/ethical obligations. n n
A therapist working in a community agency receives a referral for a child with sever
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
e PTSD from sexual abuse. The therapist has no training or experience treating chil
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dren with PTSD from sexual abuse. The therapist should:
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Response:
A. Attend a training on PTSD in children. n n n n n n
B. Conduct an initial assessment and make treatment recommendations.
n n n n n n n
C. Refer the child to appropriate services.
n n n n n
D. Treat the child after getting consultation. -
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✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Rationale: C is the best answer for this particular client b
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ecause it is outside of the scope of competence of the therapist. Neither attendin
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g a training nor seeking consultation would be adequate for this type of case, so
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A and D are out. B is
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,wrong because the therapist would need training in how to assess and what to re
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
commend.
After referring a client to an acupuncturist for treatment the acupuncturist calls th
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e therapist and invites him to lunch to discuss how they can work together. He tells
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the therapist that he is willing to pay for referrals. How should the therapist manag
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e the legal and ethical issues in this situation?
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Response:
A. Discuss how much he wants to be paid per client.
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B. Decline the lunch invitation because of client's confidentiality.
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C. Inform him that he cannot accept payment for referrals.
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D. Discuss how the therapist can pay acupuncturist for referrals as well. - ✔✔✔
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Correct Answer > C. Inform him that he cannot accept payment for referrals.
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Rationale: C is the best answer because it is illegal to take kick-
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backs for referrals. A and D are engaging in unethical and illegal behavior. B is not
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the addressing the issue of payment for referrals.
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A younger therapist has been treating a 60-year-
n n n n n n n
old Navajo woman for 3 months and has a particularly ground-
n n n n n n n n n n
breaking session. At the next session, she arrives with a gift, a beautiful handmade
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blanket. After the therapist explains that it would be unethical to accept the gift, t
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he woman appears insulted and quietly mumbles that she wishes to end the sessio
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n and discontinue therapy. Ethically, the therapist should have:
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A. Accepted the gift, but leave it in the office to use.
n n n n n n n n n n
B. Accepted the gift and discussed its significance.n n n n n n
C. Consulted with a supervisor regarding the appropriateness of accepting the
n n n n n n n n n n
gift.
, D. Declined the gift, which was the most appropriate course. -
n n n n n n n n n
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > B. Accepted the gift and discussed its significance.
n n n n n n n n n n n n
Rationale: It is not unethical to accept gifts. In this case, B is the better way to res
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
pond to handmade gift. n n n
During the sixth session with a 64-year-
n n n n n n
old man he breaks down in tears while discussing his relationship with his estrange
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
d 40-year-
n
old son. He confesses that when his son was younger the client was physically abus
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ive to his son on a number of occasions, especially when the client had been drinki
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ng. He says that besides his wife, he's never told this to anyone before. How should
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
the therapist manage the legal obligations in this case?
n n n n n n n n
Response:
A. Explore client's feelings about disclosure and document the session in his r
n n n n n n n n n n n
ecord.
B. Inform the client that child abuse is a mandated report and file a report.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
C. Review the limits of confidentiality and determine whether the client is
n n n n n n n n n n n
currently abusing any minors. n n n
D. Maintain confidentiality of the reported abuse and document session in his r
n n n n n n n n n n n
ecord. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Answer: D.
n n n n n n n
Rationale: You would not report child abuse if the victim is no longer a minor. Th
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ere is no indication that the client is currently abusing any children. This leaves y
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ou with A and D. D is better because it addresses the legal obligations, where "ex
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
plore client's feelings" would be a clinical, not legally required, response.
n n n n n n n n n n
A therapist has been treating a 42 year-
n n n n n n n
old, single man for five months. The client is a successful partner at a prestigious la
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
w firm. For the past month, the client has noticed improvements in his mood and hi
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
s relationships with others. Around the holidays the client leaves the therapist a bo
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ttle of wine outside the office as an
n n n n n n n
n n n n n n
| 2025 CURRENTLY TESTING ACCURATE REAL E
n n n n n n
XAM QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS GR
n n n n n
ADED A+ | GUARANTEED EXCELLENCE PASS n n n n n
A therapist is currently involved in a contentious custody battle with her ex-
n n n n n n n n n n n n
nhusband and perceives her spouse as hostile and unreasonable. The therapist begi
n n n n n n n n n n n
ns meeting weekly with a peer for consultation to prevent her frustrations from im
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
pacting therapy with her clients. A month later, a client who has been in ongoing th
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
erapy for symptoms of panic disorder and anxiety begins describing relationship dif
n n n n n n n n n n n
ficulties that are similar to what the therapist is experiencing.
n n n n n n n n n
Which of the following actions should the therapist take to manage the ethical issu
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
es involved in this case?
n n n n
Response:
A. Contain the therapist's own feelings and focus discussions on the client's
n n n n n n n n n n n
depression to maintain consistency with established treatment goals.
n n n n n n n
B. Provide continued treatment to the client and discuss the case with the
n n n n n n n n n n n n
colleague to monitor own feelings. n n n n
C. Utilize limited self-disclosure and reassure the client of the therapist's und -
n n n n n n n n n n n
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > B Rationale: The best answer is B. Therapists should seek
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
nconsultation when they identify issues interfering with treatment. It is clear in t
n n n n n n n n n n n n
his case that the therapist's personal situation is affecting her work with this clie
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
nt, so she should seek consultation. Seeking personal therapy may be an option t
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
he therapist pursues, however, referring client out is too extreme, making D inco
n n n n n n n n n n n n
rrect.
,A 17-year-
n
old is receiving therapy at school. He shares that he is having a lot of problems wit
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
h his new 15-year-
n n n
old girlfriend. He states, "sometimes she drives me so crazy, I just want to smack h
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
er. If I try to leave, she pleads for me to stay. I just don't know how to deal with her
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
moods." How should the therapist manage the legal and ethical obligations in this
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
case?
Response:
A. Maintain confidentiality and document incident in record.n n n n n n
B. File a child abuse report and process it with client.
n n n n n n n n n
C. Contact the police because of potential for harm.n n n n n n n
D. Maintain confidentiality and role play with client to identify better coping strate
n n n n n n n n n n n
gies. - n
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > ...Rationale: The best answer is A. The client has express
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ed conflict with his girlfriend, which does not require a report. In this case, we wo
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
uld maintain confidentiality. If the client said he hit her, then we would report. R
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ole playing (D) is a good intervention to use, but does not answer the question of
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
managing legal/ethical obligations. n n
A therapist working in a community agency receives a referral for a child with sever
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
e PTSD from sexual abuse. The therapist has no training or experience treating chil
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
dren with PTSD from sexual abuse. The therapist should:
n n n n n n n n
Response:
A. Attend a training on PTSD in children. n n n n n n
B. Conduct an initial assessment and make treatment recommendations.
n n n n n n n
C. Refer the child to appropriate services.
n n n n n
D. Treat the child after getting consultation. -
n n n n n n
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Rationale: C is the best answer for this particular client b
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ecause it is outside of the scope of competence of the therapist. Neither attendin
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
g a training nor seeking consultation would be adequate for this type of case, so
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
A and D are out. B is
n n n n n n
,wrong because the therapist would need training in how to assess and what to re
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
commend.
After referring a client to an acupuncturist for treatment the acupuncturist calls th
n n n n n n n n n n n n
e therapist and invites him to lunch to discuss how they can work together. He tells
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
the therapist that he is willing to pay for referrals. How should the therapist manag
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
e the legal and ethical issues in this situation?
n n n n n n n n
Response:
A. Discuss how much he wants to be paid per client.
n n n n n n n n n
B. Decline the lunch invitation because of client's confidentiality.
n n n n n n n
C. Inform him that he cannot accept payment for referrals.
n n n n n n n n
D. Discuss how the therapist can pay acupuncturist for referrals as well. - ✔✔✔
n n n n n n n n n n n n
Correct Answer > C. Inform him that he cannot accept payment for referrals.
n n n n n n n n n n n n
Rationale: C is the best answer because it is illegal to take kick-
n n n n n n n n n n n n
backs for referrals. A and D are engaging in unethical and illegal behavior. B is not
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
the addressing the issue of payment for referrals.
n n n n n n n n
A younger therapist has been treating a 60-year-
n n n n n n n
old Navajo woman for 3 months and has a particularly ground-
n n n n n n n n n n
breaking session. At the next session, she arrives with a gift, a beautiful handmade
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
blanket. After the therapist explains that it would be unethical to accept the gift, t
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
he woman appears insulted and quietly mumbles that she wishes to end the sessio
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
n and discontinue therapy. Ethically, the therapist should have:
n n n n n n n n
A. Accepted the gift, but leave it in the office to use.
n n n n n n n n n n
B. Accepted the gift and discussed its significance.n n n n n n
C. Consulted with a supervisor regarding the appropriateness of accepting the
n n n n n n n n n n
gift.
, D. Declined the gift, which was the most appropriate course. -
n n n n n n n n n
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > B. Accepted the gift and discussed its significance.
n n n n n n n n n n n n
Rationale: It is not unethical to accept gifts. In this case, B is the better way to res
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
pond to handmade gift. n n n
During the sixth session with a 64-year-
n n n n n n
old man he breaks down in tears while discussing his relationship with his estrange
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
d 40-year-
n
old son. He confesses that when his son was younger the client was physically abus
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ive to his son on a number of occasions, especially when the client had been drinki
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ng. He says that besides his wife, he's never told this to anyone before. How should
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
the therapist manage the legal obligations in this case?
n n n n n n n n
Response:
A. Explore client's feelings about disclosure and document the session in his r
n n n n n n n n n n n
ecord.
B. Inform the client that child abuse is a mandated report and file a report.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
C. Review the limits of confidentiality and determine whether the client is
n n n n n n n n n n n
currently abusing any minors. n n n
D. Maintain confidentiality of the reported abuse and document session in his r
n n n n n n n n n n n
ecord. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Answer: D.
n n n n n n n
Rationale: You would not report child abuse if the victim is no longer a minor. Th
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ere is no indication that the client is currently abusing any children. This leaves y
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ou with A and D. D is better because it addresses the legal obligations, where "ex
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
plore client's feelings" would be a clinical, not legally required, response.
n n n n n n n n n n
A therapist has been treating a 42 year-
n n n n n n n
old, single man for five months. The client is a successful partner at a prestigious la
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
w firm. For the past month, the client has noticed improvements in his mood and hi
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
s relationships with others. Around the holidays the client leaves the therapist a bo
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
ttle of wine outside the office as an
n n n n n n n
