CALIFORNIA LAW AND ETHICS SOCIAL WORK LCSW ASW EXAM CA
L and E | COMPLETE 2026/2027 MASTER REVIEW | GRADED A+ |
100% CORRECT | VERIFIED STUDY SET FOR GUARANTEED
SUCCESS | HIGH-YIELD CONCEPTS, LEGAL STANDARDS & ETHICAL
APPLICATION INSIGHTS FOR EXCELLENCE
Confidentiality falls into what three types of issues? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Therapeutic, legal & ethical issues
What is a leading cause of ethical complaints? Litigation for malpractice? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Confidentiality
4th most frequent basis of disciplinary action
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers should protect
confidentiality of all info except for when? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Compelling professional reasons
As necessary to prevent "serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm" to a client or
other identifiable person.
To what level of detail should confidentiality be broken when necessary? -
CORRECT ANSWER - In these instances, professionals should disclose the
least amount of confidential information necessary to achieve the desired
purpose; only information that is directly relevant to the purpose for which the
disclosure is made should be revealed.
What type of consent is required in order for mental health professionals to
disclose to third parties? - CORRECT ANSWER - Written
Verbal - in emergency situations only
,What are the exceptions to confidentiality? - CORRECT ANSWER - Under
California law, there are several exceptions to the confidentiality of
psychotherapy. The primary exceptions to confidentiality concern harm to self
or others:
Where there is a reasonable suspicion that a client is likely to harm him or
herself unless protective measures are taken.
Where there is a reasonable suspicion of child abuse or elder adult physical
abuse (see Mandated Reporting section);
Where there is a reasonable suspicion of the potential for danger of violence to
others (see Duty to Warn section);
What is reasonable suspicion according to Lowenthal Child Abuse Reporting
guidelines? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Reasonable suspicion does not require
certainty that child abuse or neglect has occurred;
2. Reasonable suspicion does not require a specific medical indication of child
abuse or neglect; any reasonable suspicion is sufficient; and
3. Reasonable suspicion may be based on any information considered credible
by the reporter, including statements from other individuals.
How should a therapist approach treatment confidentiality with families or
couples? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is important for the provider to be
specific with regard to confidentiality issues and to seek agreement among the
parties involved concerning each individual's right to confidentiality and
obligation to preserve the confidentiality of information shared by others.
How should a therapist approach treatment confidentiality with groups? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The mental health provider cannot guarantee that
group members will keep information confidential and this information is
important to share with all group members in advance of group psychotherapy.
,Can clients access their therapeutic medical record? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes - clinicians are ethically mandated to support clients in record review. Per
the NASW ethical code: "Social workers should provide clients with reasonable
access to records concerning the clients. Social workers who are concerned that
clients' access to their records could cause serious misunderstanding or harm to
the client should provide assistance in interpreting the records and consultation
with the client regarding the records. Social workers should limit clients' access
to their records, or portions of their records, only in exceptional circumstances
when there is compelling evidence that such access would cause serious harm to
the client. Both clients' requests and the rationale for withholding some or all of
the record should be documented in clients' files."
What is privileged communication? - CORRECT ANSWER - Privileged
communication refers to a private statement that must be kept in confidence by
the recipient for the benefit of the communicator."
How many privileges are there in CA? - CORRECT ANSWER - 13
recognized
Who holds the privilege? - CORRECT ANSWER - Client if no guardian or
conservator
If so, guardian/conservator holds it
Who holds privilege if client is dead? - CORRECT ANSWER - Personal
representative
If you want to release information from a group, family or couple, what must
you do? - CORRECT ANSWER - • If your identified patient is a group,
family, or couple you must receive a waiver from each and every member of the
group before you can release any information.
, Do minor children hold privilege? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes - If your
patient is a minor child, he or she holds the privilege. A minor's parents do not
hold the privilege for the minor. The only time a parent could hold the privilege
for the minor is if the court has specifically appointed the parent as a guardian
ad litem
How is privilege asserted for minors with regard to attorneys? - CORRECT
ANSWER - • If your patient is a minor, you must assert the privilege on his or
her behalf. If the minor has an attorney, the attorney can make the decision to
waive or assert the privilege.
What does the NASW Code of Ethics say about when the law orders social
workers to break confidentiality without client permission? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients during
legal proceedings to the extent permitted by law. When a court of law or other
legally authorized body orders social workers to disclose confidential or
privileged information without a client's consent and such disclosure could
cause harm to the client, social workers should request that the court withdraw
the order or limit the order as narrowly as possible or maintain the records under
seal, unavailable for public inspection." Although it is ethically preferable, then,
not to reveal treatment information, this may still be required by the court.
What could happen if a provider receives a subpoena from an attorney to
provide copies of clinical records? - CORRECT ANSWER - waive privilege
and allow the provider to provide the subpoenaed information; or
invoke privilege and refuse to allow the release of information.
In the latter case, the judge will determine whether the treating professional
must release information and the judge can issue a court order.
What is required in order for a social worker to be forced to provide information
even though privilege is invoked? - CORRECT ANSWER - Court order by the
judge
L and E | COMPLETE 2026/2027 MASTER REVIEW | GRADED A+ |
100% CORRECT | VERIFIED STUDY SET FOR GUARANTEED
SUCCESS | HIGH-YIELD CONCEPTS, LEGAL STANDARDS & ETHICAL
APPLICATION INSIGHTS FOR EXCELLENCE
Confidentiality falls into what three types of issues? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Therapeutic, legal & ethical issues
What is a leading cause of ethical complaints? Litigation for malpractice? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Confidentiality
4th most frequent basis of disciplinary action
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers should protect
confidentiality of all info except for when? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Compelling professional reasons
As necessary to prevent "serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm" to a client or
other identifiable person.
To what level of detail should confidentiality be broken when necessary? -
CORRECT ANSWER - In these instances, professionals should disclose the
least amount of confidential information necessary to achieve the desired
purpose; only information that is directly relevant to the purpose for which the
disclosure is made should be revealed.
What type of consent is required in order for mental health professionals to
disclose to third parties? - CORRECT ANSWER - Written
Verbal - in emergency situations only
,What are the exceptions to confidentiality? - CORRECT ANSWER - Under
California law, there are several exceptions to the confidentiality of
psychotherapy. The primary exceptions to confidentiality concern harm to self
or others:
Where there is a reasonable suspicion that a client is likely to harm him or
herself unless protective measures are taken.
Where there is a reasonable suspicion of child abuse or elder adult physical
abuse (see Mandated Reporting section);
Where there is a reasonable suspicion of the potential for danger of violence to
others (see Duty to Warn section);
What is reasonable suspicion according to Lowenthal Child Abuse Reporting
guidelines? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Reasonable suspicion does not require
certainty that child abuse or neglect has occurred;
2. Reasonable suspicion does not require a specific medical indication of child
abuse or neglect; any reasonable suspicion is sufficient; and
3. Reasonable suspicion may be based on any information considered credible
by the reporter, including statements from other individuals.
How should a therapist approach treatment confidentiality with families or
couples? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is important for the provider to be
specific with regard to confidentiality issues and to seek agreement among the
parties involved concerning each individual's right to confidentiality and
obligation to preserve the confidentiality of information shared by others.
How should a therapist approach treatment confidentiality with groups? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The mental health provider cannot guarantee that
group members will keep information confidential and this information is
important to share with all group members in advance of group psychotherapy.
,Can clients access their therapeutic medical record? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes - clinicians are ethically mandated to support clients in record review. Per
the NASW ethical code: "Social workers should provide clients with reasonable
access to records concerning the clients. Social workers who are concerned that
clients' access to their records could cause serious misunderstanding or harm to
the client should provide assistance in interpreting the records and consultation
with the client regarding the records. Social workers should limit clients' access
to their records, or portions of their records, only in exceptional circumstances
when there is compelling evidence that such access would cause serious harm to
the client. Both clients' requests and the rationale for withholding some or all of
the record should be documented in clients' files."
What is privileged communication? - CORRECT ANSWER - Privileged
communication refers to a private statement that must be kept in confidence by
the recipient for the benefit of the communicator."
How many privileges are there in CA? - CORRECT ANSWER - 13
recognized
Who holds the privilege? - CORRECT ANSWER - Client if no guardian or
conservator
If so, guardian/conservator holds it
Who holds privilege if client is dead? - CORRECT ANSWER - Personal
representative
If you want to release information from a group, family or couple, what must
you do? - CORRECT ANSWER - • If your identified patient is a group,
family, or couple you must receive a waiver from each and every member of the
group before you can release any information.
, Do minor children hold privilege? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes - If your
patient is a minor child, he or she holds the privilege. A minor's parents do not
hold the privilege for the minor. The only time a parent could hold the privilege
for the minor is if the court has specifically appointed the parent as a guardian
ad litem
How is privilege asserted for minors with regard to attorneys? - CORRECT
ANSWER - • If your patient is a minor, you must assert the privilege on his or
her behalf. If the minor has an attorney, the attorney can make the decision to
waive or assert the privilege.
What does the NASW Code of Ethics say about when the law orders social
workers to break confidentiality without client permission? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients during
legal proceedings to the extent permitted by law. When a court of law or other
legally authorized body orders social workers to disclose confidential or
privileged information without a client's consent and such disclosure could
cause harm to the client, social workers should request that the court withdraw
the order or limit the order as narrowly as possible or maintain the records under
seal, unavailable for public inspection." Although it is ethically preferable, then,
not to reveal treatment information, this may still be required by the court.
What could happen if a provider receives a subpoena from an attorney to
provide copies of clinical records? - CORRECT ANSWER - waive privilege
and allow the provider to provide the subpoenaed information; or
invoke privilege and refuse to allow the release of information.
In the latter case, the judge will determine whether the treating professional
must release information and the judge can issue a court order.
What is required in order for a social worker to be forced to provide information
even though privilege is invoked? - CORRECT ANSWER - Court order by the
judge
