California Law and Ethics
1)

In California, the laws and ethical principles governing behavioral health professionals are primarily intended to:
 
Support agency financial goals Increase client satisfaction ratings Protect the public and promote professional integrity Standardize treatment approaches
 
2)

What does scope of competence refer to in behavioral health practice?
 
Legal authorization to diagnose disorders Agency policies on client intake Limits of a practitioner’s education, training, and experience State licensing requirements
 
3)

What is the key difference between legal mandates and ethical duties in behavioral health practice?
 
Ethical duties are enforced by the state Legal mandates define minimum required behavior; ethical duties reflect aspirational professional values Both establish identical professional requirements Legal mandates are optional guidelines
 
4)

According to California law, what constitutes unprofessional conduct for associates?
 
Following agency policy Misrepresenting qualifications or licensure Declining new clients Using professional supervision
 
5)

What is the primary purpose of HIPAA (1996)?
 
Safeguard protected health information (PHI) Regulate health insurance pricing Set treatment protocols Define licensure requirements
 
6)

Under California law, confidentiality may be broken in which situation?
 
Client requests privacy Therapist feels uncertain Insurance audit occurs Mandated reporting, subpoenas or imminent danger
 
7)

What is the reporting threshold for a mandated reporter in California?
 
Verified evidence of abuse Personal certainty of harm Reasonable suspicion based on facts Confirmation from law enforcement
 
8)

When elder or dependent adult abuse is suspected, a mandated reporter must notify:
 
APS or law enforcement Board of Behavioral Sciences Medicare Court clerk
 
9)

What legal case established a therapist’s duty to protect potential victims from a client’s serious threats?
 
Jaffee v. Redmond Roe v. Wade O’Connor v. Donaldson Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California
 
10)

When a client is at risk for suicide, clinicians have a duty to:
 
Maintain full confidentiality Take reasonable steps to prevent harm Notify professional associations Avoid discussing the topic
 
11)

In California, informed consent serves what primary purpose in clinical practice?
 
Protects the therapist’s license Authorizes billing procedures Ensures clients understand and voluntarily agree to treatment Guarantees treatment success
 
12)

According to professional guidelines, how should therapists manage online interactions with clients?
 
Avoid personal social media contact Respond to all client messages Post about therapy sessions Share professional opinions publicly
 
13)

In California, culturally competent informed consent requires therapists to:
 
Use standardized consent forms Follow identical procedures for all clients Avoid discussing cultural factors Consider clients’ beliefs, language, and values
 
14)

In California, clinical supervision primarily serves what dual purpose for associates?
 
Tracks billing and productivity Provides legal safeguard and mentorship process Replaces ongoing education Limits client caseloads
 
15)

Ethically, supervisors serve what key role in the behavioral health profession?
 
Gatekeepers evaluating readiness and ethics Advocates for client complaints Coordinators of agency billing Monitors of legal statutes only
 
16)

Which ethical principle requires therapists to respect a client’s right to make their own choices?
 
Justice Fidelity Beneficence Autonomy
 
17)

Which ethical principle directs therapists to avoid causing harm to clients?
 
Veracity Nonmaleficence Beneficence Fidelity
 
18)

Under California BPC §2290.5, what must clinicians do before providing telehealth services?
 
Obtain insurance authorization Record client’s video session Obtain and document informed consent Schedule an in-person meeting
 
19)

According to HIPAA and CMIA, which ethical issue is one of the most critical in telehealth practice?
 
Session duration Billing accuracy Client attendance Maintaining confidentiality
 
20)

In the telehealth case example, the associate’s main ethical mistake was:
 
Providing services outside California without authorization Using a non-HIPAA platform Failing to collect payment Ignoring client preferences
 
21)

In the cultural misunderstanding case example, ethical competence was restored through:
 
Supervisory discipline Cultural humility and corrective action Client termination Standardized assessment tools
 
22)

In the social media case example, the therapist’s error involved:
 
Failure to document consent Inaccurate diagnosis Breach of confidentiality through online self-disclosure Overcharging for sessions
 
23)

What does professional liability refer to in clinical practice?
 
Confidentiality in treatment Client financial responsibility Supervisor oversight Clinician’s legal responsibility for harm
 
24)

What is the goal of risk prevention in psychotherapy?
 
Reduce exposure to ethical or legal violations Increase client attendance Improve marketing outcomes Limit supervision hours
 
25)

How should associates approach legal literacy in professional practice?
 
As a fixed requirement As an ongoing learning process As a supervisor’s responsibility As optional continuing education