LCSW Law & Ethics Practice Test – Licensed Clinical Social Worker (NASW Code of Ethics and
Legal Standards Exam Preparation Material)
C. Stop the discussion and do not talk about these clients again.
The rules of confidentiality would require the social workers to stop the discussion and not talk
about these clients. - correct answer ✔✔1. Two social workers are dating. They are at dinner
and they are talking about their clients. They discover that each of them is seeing a different
member of the same couple for individual therapy. What should these social workers do?
Content Area: Law: Confidentiality, Privilege, and Consent
This question is about the legal responsibility of social workers outside of the therapeutic
setting discussing a client.
A. No action is necessary since licensed health professionals may consult for purposes of
diagnosis and treatment without a release.
B. Stop the discussion and obtain releases so that such discussions in the future do not breach
confidentiality.
C. Stop the discussion and do not talk about these clients again.
D. There are no legal or ethical guidelines requiring social workers in such situations to do
anything.
B. The BBS found that the therapist terminated therapy in order to pursue a sexual relationship.
,Terminating therapy in order to pursue a sexual relationship with a client is prohibited. - correct
answer ✔✔2. Revocation of a LCSW's license after having been found to have engaged in sexual
misconduct with a client would occur after:
Content Area: Ethics: Professional Competence and Preventing Harm
This question tests your knowledge of the penalties for social workers having sex with a client.
A. A social worker filed a complaint with the BBS on behalf of a client.
B. The BBS found that the therapist terminated therapy in order to pursue a sexual relationship.
C. The social worker gives the client the pamphlet "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex"
and discusses it with the client.
D. The BBS cites the offending social worker within 10 years of the statute of limitations.
C. Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the age of the mother.
You would maintain confidentiality because you do not know his mother's age and you do not
have "reasonable suspicion" of elder abuse. - correct answer ✔✔3. Your client, George, tells you
that his mother just got remarried. He tells you that he is worried that the new husband's
children are going to go after his inheritance. He tells you that he has very little contact with the
new family and wants to keep it that way. What is your legal obligation?
Content Area: Law: Limits to Confidentiality/Mandated Reporting
This question tests your knowledge of how to proceed when you may need to assess for or
report elder abuse.
A. You must asses for elder abuse, considering "undue influence" regarding the mother's estate.
,B. You should refer the client to an attorney to determine if he has a case.
C. Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the age of the mother.
D. Report elder abuse, considering "abandonment" because he has "very little contact" with his
mother.
C. Inform Ki that the risks and benefits of therapy may be that he "finds himself" but may
change some of his family values.
Informing a client about the risks and benefits of therapy which includes altering their sense of
self and their family, is an ethical obligation. - correct answer ✔✔4. Ki is a 26-year-old Korean
who immigrated to the U.S. with his father 10 years ago. Ki wants to be an artist but his father
has saved his money and demands that Ki goes to medical school like his grandfather. Ki says
he's depressed and he would rather die than become a doctor. He says he's too stupid to pass
the classes in medical school anyway. He doesn't know how to tell his father. The social worker
determines that Ki is not suicidal. The most appropriate ethical intervention is to:
Content Area: Ethics: Therapeutic Relationship/Services
This question tests your knowledge of the ethical obligations that pertain to cultural
competence.
A. Recognize the importance of cultural considerations and acknowledge that Ki may have to
follow his father's wishes.
B. Ask Ki to bring his father in for a family session because of cultural values that encourage
respect for elders.
C. Inform Ki that the risks and benefits o
, B. Give her the brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex" and discuss her options.
Therapist sex with a client is prohibited. When a client reveals that s/he has had sex with a
former therapist, the treating mental health professional is required to give her/him the
brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex," as well as discuss it with them. - correct
answer ✔✔5. June discloses that she had been molested by a step-brother when she was 15.
She is now 28 and was divorced from her husband three years ago. Before seeing you, she saw
another therapist and she has just told you that she had sex with him. She wants therapy to
focus on the stormy relationship issues that led to her divorce, not on past sexual molestation
or exploitation. You would:
Content Area: Law: Legal Standards for Professional Practice, tests your understanding of the
legal responsibilities of therapists who learn that a client has had sex with a previous therapist.
A. Respect her wishes and continue to focus on resolving the issues on which she wants to
work.
B. Give her the brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex" and discuss her options.
C. Report the therapist to the BBS to protect the other therapist's present and future clients.
D. Work on the sexual exploitation in therapy.
A. Without providing adequate notice.
Ethical standard standards require that clients be given notice of fee increases before they
occur. - correct answer ✔✔6. Dr. Sveda has been treating Carliss for seven years during which
time the fee has been $50. Carliss finally earns his Ph.D. and gets a job for substantially more
money than he had been making. Dr. Sveda tells Carliss he'd like to revisit the fee that Carliss
Legal Standards Exam Preparation Material)
C. Stop the discussion and do not talk about these clients again.
The rules of confidentiality would require the social workers to stop the discussion and not talk
about these clients. - correct answer ✔✔1. Two social workers are dating. They are at dinner
and they are talking about their clients. They discover that each of them is seeing a different
member of the same couple for individual therapy. What should these social workers do?
Content Area: Law: Confidentiality, Privilege, and Consent
This question is about the legal responsibility of social workers outside of the therapeutic
setting discussing a client.
A. No action is necessary since licensed health professionals may consult for purposes of
diagnosis and treatment without a release.
B. Stop the discussion and obtain releases so that such discussions in the future do not breach
confidentiality.
C. Stop the discussion and do not talk about these clients again.
D. There are no legal or ethical guidelines requiring social workers in such situations to do
anything.
B. The BBS found that the therapist terminated therapy in order to pursue a sexual relationship.
,Terminating therapy in order to pursue a sexual relationship with a client is prohibited. - correct
answer ✔✔2. Revocation of a LCSW's license after having been found to have engaged in sexual
misconduct with a client would occur after:
Content Area: Ethics: Professional Competence and Preventing Harm
This question tests your knowledge of the penalties for social workers having sex with a client.
A. A social worker filed a complaint with the BBS on behalf of a client.
B. The BBS found that the therapist terminated therapy in order to pursue a sexual relationship.
C. The social worker gives the client the pamphlet "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex"
and discusses it with the client.
D. The BBS cites the offending social worker within 10 years of the statute of limitations.
C. Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the age of the mother.
You would maintain confidentiality because you do not know his mother's age and you do not
have "reasonable suspicion" of elder abuse. - correct answer ✔✔3. Your client, George, tells you
that his mother just got remarried. He tells you that he is worried that the new husband's
children are going to go after his inheritance. He tells you that he has very little contact with the
new family and wants to keep it that way. What is your legal obligation?
Content Area: Law: Limits to Confidentiality/Mandated Reporting
This question tests your knowledge of how to proceed when you may need to assess for or
report elder abuse.
A. You must asses for elder abuse, considering "undue influence" regarding the mother's estate.
,B. You should refer the client to an attorney to determine if he has a case.
C. Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the age of the mother.
D. Report elder abuse, considering "abandonment" because he has "very little contact" with his
mother.
C. Inform Ki that the risks and benefits of therapy may be that he "finds himself" but may
change some of his family values.
Informing a client about the risks and benefits of therapy which includes altering their sense of
self and their family, is an ethical obligation. - correct answer ✔✔4. Ki is a 26-year-old Korean
who immigrated to the U.S. with his father 10 years ago. Ki wants to be an artist but his father
has saved his money and demands that Ki goes to medical school like his grandfather. Ki says
he's depressed and he would rather die than become a doctor. He says he's too stupid to pass
the classes in medical school anyway. He doesn't know how to tell his father. The social worker
determines that Ki is not suicidal. The most appropriate ethical intervention is to:
Content Area: Ethics: Therapeutic Relationship/Services
This question tests your knowledge of the ethical obligations that pertain to cultural
competence.
A. Recognize the importance of cultural considerations and acknowledge that Ki may have to
follow his father's wishes.
B. Ask Ki to bring his father in for a family session because of cultural values that encourage
respect for elders.
C. Inform Ki that the risks and benefits o
, B. Give her the brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex" and discuss her options.
Therapist sex with a client is prohibited. When a client reveals that s/he has had sex with a
former therapist, the treating mental health professional is required to give her/him the
brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex," as well as discuss it with them. - correct
answer ✔✔5. June discloses that she had been molested by a step-brother when she was 15.
She is now 28 and was divorced from her husband three years ago. Before seeing you, she saw
another therapist and she has just told you that she had sex with him. She wants therapy to
focus on the stormy relationship issues that led to her divorce, not on past sexual molestation
or exploitation. You would:
Content Area: Law: Legal Standards for Professional Practice, tests your understanding of the
legal responsibilities of therapists who learn that a client has had sex with a previous therapist.
A. Respect her wishes and continue to focus on resolving the issues on which she wants to
work.
B. Give her the brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex" and discuss her options.
C. Report the therapist to the BBS to protect the other therapist's present and future clients.
D. Work on the sexual exploitation in therapy.
A. Without providing adequate notice.
Ethical standard standards require that clients be given notice of fee increases before they
occur. - correct answer ✔✔6. Dr. Sveda has been treating Carliss for seven years during which
time the fee has been $50. Carliss finally earns his Ph.D. and gets a job for substantially more
money than he had been making. Dr. Sveda tells Carliss he'd like to revisit the fee that Carliss
