Ethics and Confidentiality Flashcards

Midway through a session, a client asks the therapist to stop working on their abdomen. The therapist should:

Answer: Stop immediately and respect the withdrawal of consent

Clients may withdraw consent at any time, including in the middle of a session.

A 15-year-old wants a massage for sports soreness. Who must provide consent?

Answer: A parent or legal guardian

Minors generally cannot give legal consent, so a parent or guardian must consent.

Which element is essential for valid informed consent?

Answer: The client understands the treatment, its benefits, risks, and alternatives

Informed consent requires the client to understand what will happen and its possible outcomes.

A client makes a sexually suggestive remark and continues after being redirected. The therapist should:

Answer: End the session and document the incident

Ending the session and documenting protects the therapist and maintains professional boundaries.

A therapist realizes they have developed a romantic attraction to a client that is affecting their focus. The most ethical step is to:

Answer: Seek supervision and refer the client to another therapist

Referral and supervision protect the client when the therapist's objectivity is compromised.

Which advertising statement would be considered unethical?

Answer: "Our massage cures fibromyalgia"

Claiming massage cures a disease is a false, misleading health claim.

Which best describes appropriate therapist self-disclosure?

Answer: Brief and limited disclosure that serves the client's needs

Self-disclosure should be minimal and benefit the client, keeping the focus on them.