Other Flashcards
If a therapist encounters a situation where a 15-year-old client poses a risk to themselves but their parents refuse to consent to hospitalization, what should the therapist do in accordance with the legal and ethical guidelines outlined in the document?
1) Respect the parents’ decision and take no action.
2) Seek a court order for involuntary hospitalization.
3) Contact the client’s school for intervention.
4) Inform the parents of the therapist’s intent to hospitalize the client without consent.
2) Seek a court order for involuntary hospitalization.
The CA Patient Access to Record Act (PARA) recognizes that, with some exceptions, parents have which of the following rights?
1) Parents have a right to review the clinical records of their minor child.
2) Parents have a right to review the clinical records of their minor child only with the child’s consent.
3) Parents have a right to review the clinical records of their minor child only with the consent of the therapist.
4) A parent has a right to review a minor’s clinical record when the minor’s therapy is based on parental consent.
4) A parent has a right to review a minor’s clinical record when the minor’s therapy is based on parental consent.
What is the primary requirement for releasing therapy records to a third-party payor when treating a minor?
1) Verbal agreement from the minor.
2) Consent from the minor and/or parents.
3) Written consent from the minor only.
4) No consent is needed if the minor is over 16.
2) Consent from the minor and/or parents.
A 76-year-old male client of an LCSW appears unusually calm in session. The client had been struggling for months following the death of his best friend after a brief illness. The client lives alone, and has very few belongings. In session, he tells the therapist that he believes his life has run its course, and he intends to join his friend in heaven. He is careful not to say anything specific about his plans, but notes that he has closed his bank accounts and written letters to several people important in his life. As he leaves at the end of the session, he tells the LCSW, “thanks for everything you’ve done for me.” How should the LCSW proceed?
A. Schedule a followup session for the following week
B. Maintain confidentiality, as the client did not say anything specific about his plans
C. Contact emergency services to request a wellness check and, if necessary, transport for possible involuntary hospitalization
D. Contact law enforcement to report a Tarasoff situation
C. Contact emergency services to request a wellness check and, if necessary, transport for possible involuntary hospitalization
The LCSW should take reasonable steps to prevent a threatened suicide, including pursuing involuntary hospitalization if necessary. While the client has not made a direct threat, his statements and behaviors clearly suggest that he has a plan and intent, and the plan appears to be in motion. It is acceptable to break confidentiality in the process of moving toward possible involuntary hospitalization.
What is the primary requirement for releasing therapy records to a third-party payor when treating a minor?
A. Verbal agreement from the minor
B. Consent from the minor and/or parents
C. Written consent from the minor only
D. No consent is needed if the minor is over 16
B. Consent from the minor and/or parents
The CA PAtient Access to Record Act (PARA) recognizes that, with some exceptions, parents have which of the following rights?
A. Parents have a right to review the clinical records of their minor child.
B. Parents have a right to review the clinical records of their minor child only with the child’s consent.
C. Parents have a right to review the clinical records of their minor child only with the consent of the therapist.
D. Parents have a right to review the clinical records of their minor child when the minor’s therapy is based on parental consent.
D. Parents have a right to review the clinical records of their minor child when the minor’s therapy is based on parental consent.
An LCSW in private practice grows frustrated with a client who seems to frequently in crisis, and determines that the client needs a higher level of than what the LCSW can provide. The LCSW informs the client in person and in writing that in 30 days the LCSW will no longer provide programs as well as other local crisis resources. As the 30 days approach treatment, and offers referrals to inpatient and partial-hospitalization The client reports that they have not even attempted to contact any of the their end, the client has a scheduled termination session with the LCSW. provided referrals, they don’t feel capable of doing so, and they are feeling moderately suicidal but without a specific plan or intent. Ethically, the LCSW should:
a. Offer to assist the client during session in contacting other service providers to create a warm handoff
b. Extend the termination deadline by 30 days and encourage the client to contact the referrals previously offered Incorrect. Terminate as scheduled, and ask the client to sign a release granting the LCSW permission to follow up with a close friend or family member to ensure the client is receiving ongoing care.
C. Terminate as scheduled, and ask the client to sign a release granting the LCSW permission to follow up with a close friend or family member to ensure the client is receiving ongoing care.
d. Terminate as scheduled, and ask the client to sign a release once they are connected with a new treatment provider, so that the new provider and the LCSW can communicate.
a. CORRECT. Offer to assist the client during session in contacting other service providers to create a warm handoff.
This question assesses your knowledge of the ethical requirement to prevent client abandonment. While extending the termination deadline does prevent abandonment in the immediate term, it does little more than kick the can down the road - and may have the result of encouraging future client crises if the client feels that voicing a crisis is necessary to keep the LCSW involved. (The client’s voicing of a new crisis may actually support the notion that the client needs a higher level of care than the LCSW can provide.) A better answer is to take necessary steps in session to assist the client in connecting with appropriate providers, ensuring that a transition occurs without crisis needs falling through the cracks.
Following an arrest for assault, a 20-year-old man has been seeing an orders from the court. Three months into the therapy process, and one LCSW for private anger management and substance use counseling on that he recently had a relapse with methamphetamine. He asks the LCS month prior to the client’s next court date, he reveals to the social worker to keep this information private. As the court date approaches, the LCSW receives a subpoena from the court demanding all records from the client’s treatment. The LCSW is obligated to:
a. Provide full and complete records to the court
b. Provide the court a treatment summary, outlining in general terms the client’s participation but without specific information on recent substance use
C. Claim privilege on behalf of the client
d.. Provide the court with the client’s clinical file, and withhold psychotherapy notes, where the client’s recent substance use are noted.
a. CORRECT. Provide full and complete records to the court
When therapy is taking place by court order, privilege does not apply. The social worker should provide the court with complete records. California does not protect psychotherapy notes from subpoena, so if the LCSW was keeping separate psychotherapy notes for this client, those too would need to be provided.
A 15 y/o girl is seeing an LCSW individually for issues related to body image and self-esteem. Her parents provided consent for the therapy and pay for her sessions, but do not participate. The girl tells the LCSW that she has been exploring her sexuality. While her parents were out of town, she had sexual intercourse with a friend’s 19-year-old brother. A few days later, she had intercourse with another boy, an 18-year-old senior at her high school. The LCSW should manage their legal responsibilities by:
a. Reporting child abuse to the local child protective service
b. Investigating to ensure that the sexual activity was not coerced or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol agency
C. Notifying the parents of their daughter’s high-risk sexual behavior
d. Maintaining confidentiality
d. CORRECT. Maintaining confidentiality
The age combination of the partners, in both instances of sexual activity, does not require reporting (A). If either boy were 21 or over, or under 14, these combinations would be reportable. While it may be clinically relevant to explore the context of the sexual activity in more detail, the LCSW is not obligated to do so, and in fact should not position themselves as an investigator (B). While the parents may be able to access their daughter’s treatment records, the LCSW does not have a responsibility to proactively inform them of sexual behavior; further, there is nothing in the question that would necessarily classify this girl’s behavior as “high-risk” (C). In the absence of a legal requirement or allowance for disclosure, the LCSW is legally obligated to maintain confidentiality.
A 14-year-old client consented to her own treatment at a nonprofit Pr agency, which agreed to treat her for $5/session. The client tells the therapist (an LCSW) that the client has been abusing a friend’s prescription painkillers. Legally, the LCSW should:
a. Notify the local child protective service agency
b. Notify the client’s parent or guardian, as the behavior is considered high-risk
C. Work with the client to develop a plan to gradually reduce dosage and ultimately stop the client’s drug use
d. Document the discussion and refer the client to a physician
d. CORRECT. Document the discussion and refer the client to a physician
Drug use, in and of itself, is not considered child abuse (a). No such report is needed. Since the client consented to treatment on their own, the parents do not have a right to the client’s records; even a high-risk behavior would not be disclosed (b) unless doing so was to prevent imminent danger. Advising the client on reducing prescription drug dosage would be considered giving medical advice and is out of an LCSW’s scope of practice. A referral to a physician (d) is appropriate.
A white family has been attending family therapy to address conflict among the three siblings: A 16-year-old girl, a 13-year-old girl, and a 10-year-old who identifies as nonbinary. In session, the 16-year-old admits that she and the 10-year-old sometimes wake the 13-year-old by climbing on top of her, slapping, and punching her. The 13-year-old has shown her parents the bruises on her face and arms that have resulted, but the parents say they did not take photos of the bruises, and the LCSW providing family therapy has not observed any bruising.
the 13-year-old says she has tried to “get back” at her siblings by stealing and giving away their belongings. The parents say they feel helpless to stop the siblings’ behavior toward one another. How should the LCSW proceed?
a. File a report of suspected child abuse, naming all three
siblings as both victims and perpetrators
b. File a report of suspected child abuse, naming the 16- year-old and 10-year-old as perpetrators
c. File a report of suspected child neglect, naming the parents as perpetrators for failing to protect the 13-year-old
d. File a report of suspected child abuse, naming only the 16-year-old as a perpetrator
b. CORRECT. File a report of suspected child abuse, naming the 16- year-old and 10-year-old as perpetrators
While the child abuse reporting law in California does make an exception to the physical abuse reporting requirement for a “mutual affray” among minors, the violence here is not mutual. It is leaving the 13-year-old with physical injuries. That abuse must be reported, even when the perpetrator is another minor. The 13-year-old’s efforts to get back at her siblings are clinically troubling, but do not legally qualify as abuse. A report of suspected physical abuse should be filed, naming the 16-year-old and 10-year-old as perpetrators and the 13-year-old as a victim.
- An adult male client arrives at an LCSW’s office for an initial consultation. He appears agitated, rarely making eye contact. He expresses frustration that his family has been telling him he needs to be in therapy. He says he believes therapy is a “racket” and that he is willing to try it for no more than a month. Considering the LCSW’s legal responsibilities, how should the LCSW proceed?
a. Offer the client reasonable expectations of the therapy process, including its length
b. Collaboratively develop a treatment plan that prioritizes short-term changes the client would like to make
C. Inform the client of the process for filing a complaint with the BBS
d. Calmly describe the LCSW’s education and training, and remind the client he is free to choose his therapist
C. CORRECT. Inform the client of the process for filing a complaint with the BBS
While each of the other options here may be clinically useful, only option C reflects a legal obligation for the beginning of therapy.
A supervisee expresses frustration to their LCSW supervisor that the supervisee is still having many of the same clinical challenges they were having a year ago when they started working under the supervisor. The supervisee explains to the supervisor that the supervisee has reviewed clinical records and session tapes, and still does not understand what they are doing wrong in therapy. While some of the supervisee’s clients appear
to be improving, many are not. Considering the supervisor’s ethical obligations, how should the supervisor proceed?
a. Consider terminating the supervision relationship in light
of the supervisee’s lack of improvement
b. Reassure the supervisee that therapeutic growth is sometimes slow and inconsistent
c. Utilize a substitute supervisor to provide the supervisee an alternate perspective on their work
d. Provide a summary of the supervisee’s strengths and weaknesses as the supervisor perceives them
d. CORRECT. Provide a summary of the supervisee’s strengths and weaknesses as the supervisor perceives them
While any of the options here could theoretically be useful and appropriate, only the evaluation of supervisees represents an ethical obligation.
An LCSW is working with an individual client who is contemplating moving out of the state. The client has twin 5-year-old children with her spouse, and the client says she is prepared to let her spouse have primary custody. The client explains that her marriage is failing and she cannot find work in California, but that her family in another state is prepared to give her a place to live and help connect her with possible jobs. She says she wants to be a good parent and maintain good relationships with her spouse and children. How should the LCSW proceed?
a. Help the client develop and consider possible outcomes of the move, and possible alternatives
b. Consider the family to be the client and support
maintaining the family structure until instructed otherwise by the client
c. Offer to connect the client with a therapist in what will be their new state, including sending records if the client will allow
d. Inform the client that the therapist will listen and reflect as the client weighs their options, but that the LCSW will not guide the discussion in any way
a. CORRECT. Help the client develop and consider possible outcomes of the move, and possible alternatives
The question says the client is contemplating the move, not that the decision has been made. The LCSW should not assume that the move will happen, or that it shouldn’t. But the LCSW also does not need to be passive. They can best fulfill their role by helping the client see the full range of their options, and the potential outcomes of each.
An LCSW is working with a client on issues of anxiety and body image. The client gives the LCSW permission to consult with the client’s physician, physician. The client explains that they felt shamed by the physician and but asks the LCSW not to discuss the client’s recent weight gain with the pressured to lose weight despite the client being in overall good health. The LCSW contacts the physician and explains that the client appears to be learning to manage their anxiety effectively without medication. The
physician asks whether the client is losing weight as instructed. How should the LCSW respond?
a. Say yes to satisfy the physician, and redirect the conversation
b. Inform the physician of the client’s weight gain, considering the potential medical concerns
c. Without directly answering the question, inform the physician that the client has experienced pressure to lose weight and that such pressure may worsen the client’s anxiety
d. Explain that the client’s weight is not part of their therapy
d. CORRECT. Explain that the client’s weight is not part of their therapy
The LCSW should respect the client’s request for their weight to not be discussed with the physician. At the same time, the LCSW does not need to lie or argue with the physician to accomplish this. Best to simply explain that the client’s weight is not part of their therapy and move on in the conversation. This protects the client’s rights while preserving the LCSW’s role.
An adult client with an extensive history of gambling seeks couple therapy with his wife of 14 years. Despite the best efforts of an LCSW, the treatment fails, and the couple chooses to divorce. The man’s gambling worsens, eventually leaving him bankrupt. He sues the LCSW, claiming that the LCSW’s misconduct negatively impacted his mental health, causing him to lose his job and ultimately run out of money. The LCSW believes that records of the case will ultimately lead a court to rule in the LCSW’s favor, but the client refuses to release the records. Instead, the client goes on television, where he discloses his gambling and therapy history and again accuses the therapist of misconduct. Legally, how should the LCSW proceed?
a. Disclose the client file to the public, as the client has waived confidentiality with his own disclosures to the media
b. Disclose the client file to the court
C. Through an attorney, move to submit the client file into evidence
d. Through an attorney, contact the client in a good-faith effort to have the records released
C. CORRECT. Through an attorney, move to submit the client file into evidence
The client’s accusation of therapist breach of duty is an exception to privilege, but it is the role of the court, and not the therapist, to make that determination. The therapist should move to submit the client file into evidence, and the client can raise privilege claims in dispute of this if they wish. The file should not be disclosed unless and until a judge has determined that privilege does not apply.
An LCSW’s former client threatens a licensing board complaint after the former client requested their records be shared with their new therapist. The records were forwarded as requested, and the new therapist then informed their client that the client had been diagnosed by the LCSW with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder. The client was surprised by the news, as they had not been previously informed of the diagnosis; treatment with the LCSW had focused on the client’s social and relational functioning. The former client demands the LCSW apologize and explain why the LCSW believes the client is, as the client describes it, “broken and unfixable.” The LCSW should:
a. Retract the release of the client’s record, as its release has caused the client harm
b. Contact the new therapist to explain the diagnosis.
c. Explain to the former client what the diagnosis means and how the LCSW determined it
d. Inform the former client of the process for filing a board complaint, and remind them of their ability to provide an addendum that would be added to the treatment record
c. CORRECT. Explain to the former client what the diagnosis means and how the LCSW determined it
Social workers are ethically obligated to assist clients in understanding information in their records. In this instance, the client’s description of themselves as “broken and unfixable” does not align with current professional thinking about PTSD, which is understood as being both understandable and treatable. The client’s description suggests they may not understand what the PTSD diagnosis means.
An LCSW provided therapy to a 16-year-old boy for several months with his parents’ consent. A few months later, the LCSW receives a subpoena from the attorney for a classmate of the boy. The classmate accused the client of physical assault, and the classmate’s family is suing to recover medical expenses. The subpoena requests complete records of the boy’s treatment. The LCSW attempts to contact the client and his parents but is unsuccessful. The LCSW should:
a. Wait to respond to the subpoena until the LCSW is able to determine how the client would like the LCSW to respond. Failing to respond to a subpoena may land the LCSW in trouble with the court.
b. Wait to respond to the subpoena until the LCSW is able to determine how the parents would like the LCSW to respond.
C. Respond to the subpoena by asserting privilege, and continue attempts to contact the client and his parents. When clients cannot be reached to determine their preferred response to a subpoena, asserting privilege on their behalf is a reasonable default position to take.
d. Acknowledge the exception to privilege, turn over the client’s records, and inform the client and his family as soon as possible. It is up to a judge, and not the therapist, to determine whether an exception to privilege applies.
C.CORRECT. Respond to the subpoena by asserting privilege, and continue attempts to contact the client and his parents. When clients cannot be reached to determine their preferred response to a subpoena, asserting privilege on their behalf is a reasonable default position to take.
Failing to respond to a subpoena may land the LCSW in trouble with the court.
An LCSW is running a therapy group for adults abused as children. Given the sensitive nature of the group, the LCSW wants to begin with a discussion about privacy. Group members ask the LCSW whether they can share information they learn in the group with their significant others at home. The most appropriate course of action would be for the LCSW to:
a. Remind group members of their legal obligation to keep information confidential
b. Discuss with the group why privacy is important to the success of the group process
C. Remind group members of their ethical obligation to keep information confidential
d. Discuss with the group what they believe the
appropriate rules should be around such disclosures, as well as the consequences for violations of those rules
d. CORRECT. Discuss with the group what they believe the
appropriate rules should be around such disclosures, as well as the consequences for violations of those rules
Group members do not have legal or ethical obligations particular to being a client (A and C). Clear guidelines are needed, but the group can come up with their preferred guidelines with the therapist’s guidance. Simply discussing why privacy is important (B) would not answer the group members’ question about whether sharing information in a limited context with a trusted partner would be allowed.
An LCSW suffers a serious illness, and a colleague steps in to take over the LCSW’s ongoing clients until the LCSW can return to practice. The LCSW agrees to continue handling billing and to review the colleague’s session notes to keep up with what is happening while she is recovering. Some of the LCSW’s ongoing clients pay for sessions through their health insurance. However, the colleague (who is also a licensed LCSW in private practice) is not on any insurance panels. The ill LCSW should:
a. Continue to submit insurance billing listing herself as the treatment provider.
b. Continue to submit insurance billing listing the colleague as the treatment provider and herself as the supervisor.
C. Either directly or through the colleague, inform clients of the difference in panel status and arrange alternate payment or referrals as needed.
d. Defer to the colleague to negotiate fees independently, and otherwise presume that the LCSW’s typical business practices will be followed.
C. CORRECT. Either directly or through the colleague, inform clients of the difference in panel status and arrange alternate payment or referrals as needed.
In a large public mental health clinic, a social worker becomes aware of a colleague in the clinic (Social Worker B) who describes all trans, queer, nonbinary, or otherwise gender-nonconforming clients as mentally ill and refuses to work with such clients. Supervisors are aware of the issue and make sure that the colleague is only assigned cisgender clients. A different colleague (Social Worker C), who complained about Social Worker B’s behavior, was then told that Social Worker B had accused them of religious discrimination, a charge that Social Worker A believes to be false. What ethical responsibility does Social Worker A have in this circumstance?
a. Assist in Social Worker C’s defense; bring Social Worker B’s behavior to the attention of administrators; file a formal ethical complaint against Social Worker B if needed
b. Assist in Social Worker C’s defense; demand supervisors explain why they did not take additional action
c. Because all potentially problematic behavior has been reported, allow the administrative processes of resolving all complaints to reach their conclusions; evaluate options at that point
d. File an ethics complaint against Social Worker B and their supervisor with the NASW Ethics Committee
a. CORRECT. Assist in Social Worker C’s defense; bring Social Worker B’s behavior to the attention of administrators; file a formal ethical complaint against Social Worker B if needed
An LCSW is an outpatient group practice setting has fallen behind on their documentation. The owner of the practice expresses concern that the 68. An LCSW in an outpatient group practice setting has fallen behind c delays will impact insurance billing and, ultimately, the practice’s financial health. To ethically resolve this issue, the LCSW should:
a. Create at least cursory progress notes for all sessions more than 7 days in the past, even if such notes are a single sentence each, to allow billing to move forward
b. Transfer their clients to other clinicians in the group, allowing the other clinicians to create documentation of past sessions establishing themselves as the service providers and to properly submit insurance claims
C. Work diligently to catch up
d. Consider reducing their client load or, if necessary, leaving the practice
C. CORRECT. Work diligently to catch up
The NASW Code of Ethics demands that social workers produce accurate and timely documentation that adequately reflects the services provided. One-sentence progress notes (A) likely would not be sufficient (they would not meaningfully reflect the services provided, and they would not be useful if a need for continuity of service with another clinician emerged), having other clinicians present themselves as the service providers for past sessions (B) would not be accurate, and reducing client load or leaving the practice (D) does nothing to resolve the issues related to the notes for sessions already conducted. There’s also no other evidence in the question to suggest that the LCSW is impaired in such a way that would support reducing their client load or potentially leaving the practice. The most ethical thing for the social worker to do here is make a priority of catching up, in accordance with those ethical standards.
As a client leaves an LCSW’s office, the LCSW believes the client poses a serious danger to the client’s spouse. (The client had been making threats in session about what he would do to her.) The LCSW, knowing the couple lives roughly 30 minutes from the LCSW’s office, calls the client immediately, and is able to resolve the danger. The client disavows any continued plan to harm his spouse, and apologizes to the LCSW for “getting so out of hand.” What does the LCSW need to do to resolve the LCSW’s legal responsibility?
a. Notify the spouse and law enforcement immediately
b. Notify the spouse immediately
C. Notify law enforcement within 24 hours
d. Notify the local child protective services agency
C. CORRECT. Notify law enforcement within 24 hours
While warning an intended victim in a Tarasoff situation grants the LCSW certain additional legal protections, it is not always necessary or appropriate to do so. In this case, the LCSW was able to fully resolve the threat on their own, before notifying the intended victim or law enforcement. Still, under state law, the fact that the LCSW’s Tarasoff responsibilities were triggered at all means that the LCSW must report the threatening person to law enforcement within 24 hours, even if notifying law enforcement was not necessary to resolve the initial threat. As noted in the study guide, the idea of this law is to prevent potentially dangerous individuals from buying guns.
A 27-year-old trans female client has been receiving services from an LCSW at a reduced-fee clinic. The client has been unable to pay even her $100. The client is apologetic and has reassured the LCSW that she will pay reduced fee, and over 8 weeks has built up an unpaid balance of more than the overdue fees once her aging mother dies and she can collect her inheritance. The LCSW has informed the client while she empathizes with the client’s struggles, a balance that goes unpaid for more than 30 days will result in the termination of services. This policy also appears in the informed consent document the client signed at the beginning of services. The client does not have stable food, work, or shelter, but is typically able to engage public services and shelter space when needed. How should the social worker proceed?
a. Assess whether the client poses imminent danger to self or others
b. Terminate the client for nonpayment and provide at least three community referrals
C. Pay the client’s balance on the client’s behalf
d. Set a specific deadline by which the full balance must be paid off to retain services
a. CORRECT. Assess whether the client poses imminent danger to self or others
Under the NASW Code of Ethics, termination for nonpayment of an overdue balance is allowed, but a social worker first needs to engage in a number of specific steps. One of those steps is determining that the client is not an imminent danger to self or others. While nothing in the question suggests such danger, the ethical standard suggests that it should be actively determined prior to terminating with the client. Once such a determination is made, the social worker is free to terminate the client.
An individual client acknowledges to her therapist (an LCSW) that she lied on the LCSW’s intake form and actually does have several past suicide attempts in her history. She says she is not feeling suicidal now, though she has recently experienced the ending of a romantic relationship and the death of a distant relative. Legally, the LCSW should:
a. Complete a. No Harm Contract with the client.
b. Discontinue therapy and refer the client to a higher level of care, as she is high risk.
c. Initiate the process of involuntary hospitalization.
d. Assess further and break confidentiality if required to resolve any threat of suicide.
d. CORRECT. Assess further and break confidentiality if required to resolve any threat of suicide. LCSWS are legally obligated to take steps necessary to prevent a threatened suicide, and may break confidentiality if necessary as part of that process.
An LCSW has been treating a 38-year-old woman who has been abusing substances. The woman has experienced a series of health problems, and lost the debit card that she uses to buy food through a state program. She leaves the social worker a voicemail one morning, saying tha she is “tired of people messing with me” and that “the next person who tries to put me down or take something from me is getting dead.” The social worker knows that the client carries a gun and a knife with her in most places. What should the LCSW do next?
a. Invoke Tarasoff and begin the process of notifying law enforcement and the client’s neighbors of the potential risk
b. Notify law enforcement and attempt to contact and locate the client to initiate the process of hospitalization
C. Invoke Tarasoff and attempt to contact and locate the client to initiate the process of hospitalization
d. Notify law enforcement as a precautionary measure, and assume the client’s statements reflect substance intoxication rather than actual physical danger
b. CORRECT. Notify law enforcement and attempt to contact and locate the client to initiate the process of hospitalization
While the client is potentially dangerous, this is not a Tarasoff situation, as the client poses a general danger to others, and not a specific danger to reasonably identifiable others. As a result, we can immediately rule out response choices that involve Tarasoff. Notifying law enforcement is appropriate, as is attempting to contact and locate the client. Depending on the client’s history, their statements may or may not be a result of intoxication; with only the information in the question, the LCSW would err on the side of caution and take steps to protect public safety.
