Legal and ethical Analysis

This assignment is composed of 10 brief scenarios that are based on your reading of the
text and laws and ethics of psychologists.  You may use outside resources to enhance
your responses, along with the course text and APA ethics code.

You will be required to respond to all scenarios, identifying the legal and ethical issues you
see specific to the situations presented and your decision-making process regarding these
issues. Justify your decisions by citing the ethics code that supports your reasoning.
Assignment must be typed double-spaced, in 7th ed. APA style, and written at graduate
level English.

You must integrate the material presented in the text as well as the APA Code of Ethics
along with other material that you use in your responses.   Cite your work according to
7th ed. APA format. 

Your response to each scenario must be 1  page

Your total assignment must be 10 pages total plus a title and reference page

For each of the scenarios below:

A.  Respond by exploring your countertransference issue(s).

B.  State what you decide to do.

C.  Justify your decision by citing the text, ethics code or other sources you use
(remember to reference all work in APA format)

1. An attorney refers many clients to you for psychological evaluations. A close friend of
yours has retained this attorney, who refers your friend to you for a very important
psychological evaluation.  The attorney tells your friend that you are the “best” and the
“best” is needed in this case.  You are strongly encouraged by both the attorney and your
friend to do the evaluation.

2. You have a client who has adjusted a very busy schedule in order to be able to attend
therapy sessions. You cancel a session to attend a funeral for a family member.  The
client becomes irate and demands to be told the reason why you canceled.
3. The partner of a client who you have been treating for severe depression and suicidal
ideation sends a letter to you. Should you open and read it?

4. You have worked for several years with a male client who has a history of rejection by
women.  He has worked through many issues and finally has a suitable and loving
relationship. He is very grateful to you and strongly encourages you to attend the
wedding.

 a. If you decide not to attend, how would you address this with your client?

 b. If you decide to attend, how would you address this with your client and at the
wedding?

5. A male client has a terminal disease and he has decided to stop treatment and all
“heroic” measures. While not mentioning suicide, he has disclosed looking into "options"
to alleviate his suffering.

6. You treated a male client for alcohol use and abuse several years ago. When you and
some friends go to a casino for a weekend, you encounter this person who tells you and
your friends that he now has a good job at the casino thanks to the work he has done
with you.  When you go to check out, you are told that your room and dining expenses
have been “comp’d.”

7. A female client reports sexual abuse by another therapist.  When you encourage her
to report this, she indicates that she wants you to do this, as she does not want to get
the other therapist in trouble.

8. A fragile female client who believes that she has made great progress would like to
enter a training program to become a mental health professional. The client wants you to
write a letter supporting her entrance into a training program. You are not sure she is
sufficiently mentally healthy to work as a professional.

9. You have a private practice and teach graduate students who are studying to become
mental health professionals. You are approached by a student in the last class in the
program with a request to begin individual therapy with you.

10. You have worked with a client who is a fellow professional. You both agree that you
have much in common.  The client has made excellent progress, and has terminated
therapy. What should you do when, shortly after treatment has terminated, the client
calls and suggests that you purchase season tickets for a series of theatrical
performances?

 
Activity Outcomes
Discuss the importance of training, supervision and consultation