California LCSW Law & Ethics Exam – study guide and practice questions for
licensure
During the initial session, the client mentions that she has been hospitalized several times for
"severe depression". The client becomes tense and guarded when the therapist attempts to
explore the hospitalizations, saying that "it's in the past": She also states adamantly that she
won't give permission to get those records. The therapist should FIRST:
A. Assess her current level of depression.
B. Reassure her that the focus will be on the present.
C. Acknowledge her right to decide about releasing her records.
D. Explore her resistance to sharing her records. - correct answer ✔✔C. Acknowledge her right
to decide about releasing her records.
Obtaining informed consent from clients is:
A. Legal but not ethical
B. Ethical but not legal.
C. Both legal and ethical
D. Neither legal nor ethical - correct answer ✔✔C. Both legal and ethical
A 72-year-old elderly widower is brought for an evaluation to a clinic by his daughters, both of
whom live an hour away from where he still resides in the family home. The daughters are
concerned that there is "no one to look after Dad." When they came to visit him, they found the
house in complete disarray: full trashcans, sink overflowing with dirty dishes, clogged toilet, and
no clean clothes. The neurological and mental status exam reveals no dementia. The man is
ambulatory although a cane is recommended. The daughters want to place him in an assisted
living facility, but the father is adamantly opposed and wants to stay in his home. The therapist's
course of action is to:
,A. request a follow-up appointment with the father and make an adult protective services
report regarding abandonment.
B. discuss with the daughters the possibility of applying for legal guardianship of their father.
C. respect the client's - correct answer ✔✔C. respect the client's right to self-determination and
arrange for an in-home evaluation.
When developing a private practice a therapist should consider all of the following to ensure
continuity of care, except:
A. Informing clients of procedures in case of emergencies.
B. Developing a professional will.
C. Developing alternative resources in case of therapist absences.
D. Providing clients with three additional referrals at onset of therapy. - correct answer ✔✔D.
Providing clients with three additional referrals at onset of therapy.
A therapist, who was formerly employed as a financial planner, now treats couples with
relationship issues. Occasionally, the therapist will assist a couple he is treating with financial
planning when that is one of the sources of their conflict. The therapist's behavior is:
A. Acceptable because he has the training.
B. Acceptable because it aligns with treatment goals.
,C. Unacceptable because it is outside his scope of practice.
D. Unacceptable because it is outside his scope of competence. - correct answer ✔✔C.
Unacceptable because it is outside his scope of practice.
A therapist has been treating a woman for depression in private practice for four months.
During an emotional session the client discloses that she was sexually molested when she was
eight by her neighbor. The therapist has minimal training in treating childhood sexual abuse.
The therapist should:
A. Inform the client of the limitations of the therapist's training.
B. Seek consultation immediately.
C. Refer the client to a therapist trained in child sexual abuse.
D. Provide client with psychoeducation about the link between sexual abuse and depression. -
correct answer ✔✔B. Seek consultation immediately.
A therapist has been treating a client with Generalized Anxiety Disorder for five months. The
client's symptoms have disappeared and the client is functioning well. The therapist enjoys the
sessions with the client so she has been reluctant to bring up termination. Also, the client pays
full fee and the therapist is worried about losing the income. The therapist's behavior is:
A. Acceptable because the client is benefiting from the treatment.
B. Illegal.
C. Illegal and unethical.
D. Unethical. - correct answer ✔✔D. Unethical.
, A therapist receives a court order to testify in a hearing for a client accused of child abuse. The
therapist should FIRST:
A. Assert privilege.
B. Contact the client to determine their wishes.
C. Consult with a lawyer regarding the matter.
D. Review the client's records to determine what needs to be shared. - correct answer ✔✔C.
Consult with a lawyer regarding the matter.
A 13-year-old girl is referred by her teacher for therapy for depression. The therapist determines
she is mature enough to consent for her treatment. LEGALLY the therapist should first:
A. Obtain written consent for treatment from the client.
B. Determine whether her parents should give consent.
C. Obtain a release to speak to the teacher.
D. Assess for any crisis issues. - correct answer ✔✔B. Determine whether her parents should
give consent.
A family consisting of a mother, stepfather, 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter seeks
family therapy after the recent marriage of the mother and stepfather. From whom should the
therapist obtain informed consent?
A. All of them
B. The mother because she has custody of her kids.
C. The mother and stepfather because the children are too young to consent.
D. The mother, stepfather and 13 year-old because the 11 year old isn't old enough to consent. -
correct answer ✔✔A. All of them
licensure
During the initial session, the client mentions that she has been hospitalized several times for
"severe depression". The client becomes tense and guarded when the therapist attempts to
explore the hospitalizations, saying that "it's in the past": She also states adamantly that she
won't give permission to get those records. The therapist should FIRST:
A. Assess her current level of depression.
B. Reassure her that the focus will be on the present.
C. Acknowledge her right to decide about releasing her records.
D. Explore her resistance to sharing her records. - correct answer ✔✔C. Acknowledge her right
to decide about releasing her records.
Obtaining informed consent from clients is:
A. Legal but not ethical
B. Ethical but not legal.
C. Both legal and ethical
D. Neither legal nor ethical - correct answer ✔✔C. Both legal and ethical
A 72-year-old elderly widower is brought for an evaluation to a clinic by his daughters, both of
whom live an hour away from where he still resides in the family home. The daughters are
concerned that there is "no one to look after Dad." When they came to visit him, they found the
house in complete disarray: full trashcans, sink overflowing with dirty dishes, clogged toilet, and
no clean clothes. The neurological and mental status exam reveals no dementia. The man is
ambulatory although a cane is recommended. The daughters want to place him in an assisted
living facility, but the father is adamantly opposed and wants to stay in his home. The therapist's
course of action is to:
,A. request a follow-up appointment with the father and make an adult protective services
report regarding abandonment.
B. discuss with the daughters the possibility of applying for legal guardianship of their father.
C. respect the client's - correct answer ✔✔C. respect the client's right to self-determination and
arrange for an in-home evaluation.
When developing a private practice a therapist should consider all of the following to ensure
continuity of care, except:
A. Informing clients of procedures in case of emergencies.
B. Developing a professional will.
C. Developing alternative resources in case of therapist absences.
D. Providing clients with three additional referrals at onset of therapy. - correct answer ✔✔D.
Providing clients with three additional referrals at onset of therapy.
A therapist, who was formerly employed as a financial planner, now treats couples with
relationship issues. Occasionally, the therapist will assist a couple he is treating with financial
planning when that is one of the sources of their conflict. The therapist's behavior is:
A. Acceptable because he has the training.
B. Acceptable because it aligns with treatment goals.
,C. Unacceptable because it is outside his scope of practice.
D. Unacceptable because it is outside his scope of competence. - correct answer ✔✔C.
Unacceptable because it is outside his scope of practice.
A therapist has been treating a woman for depression in private practice for four months.
During an emotional session the client discloses that she was sexually molested when she was
eight by her neighbor. The therapist has minimal training in treating childhood sexual abuse.
The therapist should:
A. Inform the client of the limitations of the therapist's training.
B. Seek consultation immediately.
C. Refer the client to a therapist trained in child sexual abuse.
D. Provide client with psychoeducation about the link between sexual abuse and depression. -
correct answer ✔✔B. Seek consultation immediately.
A therapist has been treating a client with Generalized Anxiety Disorder for five months. The
client's symptoms have disappeared and the client is functioning well. The therapist enjoys the
sessions with the client so she has been reluctant to bring up termination. Also, the client pays
full fee and the therapist is worried about losing the income. The therapist's behavior is:
A. Acceptable because the client is benefiting from the treatment.
B. Illegal.
C. Illegal and unethical.
D. Unethical. - correct answer ✔✔D. Unethical.
, A therapist receives a court order to testify in a hearing for a client accused of child abuse. The
therapist should FIRST:
A. Assert privilege.
B. Contact the client to determine their wishes.
C. Consult with a lawyer regarding the matter.
D. Review the client's records to determine what needs to be shared. - correct answer ✔✔C.
Consult with a lawyer regarding the matter.
A 13-year-old girl is referred by her teacher for therapy for depression. The therapist determines
she is mature enough to consent for her treatment. LEGALLY the therapist should first:
A. Obtain written consent for treatment from the client.
B. Determine whether her parents should give consent.
C. Obtain a release to speak to the teacher.
D. Assess for any crisis issues. - correct answer ✔✔B. Determine whether her parents should
give consent.
A family consisting of a mother, stepfather, 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter seeks
family therapy after the recent marriage of the mother and stepfather. From whom should the
therapist obtain informed consent?
A. All of them
B. The mother because she has custody of her kids.
C. The mother and stepfather because the children are too young to consent.
D. The mother, stepfather and 13 year-old because the 11 year old isn't old enough to consent. -
correct answer ✔✔A. All of them
