Hi Deon,

Thanks for this question! I would say, in general, nothing on the exam is intended to really trick or confuse you, but rather to determine whether you are prepared to practice ethical and effective therapy. Thinking through ethics questions and using your core understanding of nonviolent, compassionate care will serve you. I'd also scroll back through my recent posts on here, as I've been doing a series of ethics posts based on the ACA's Code of Ethics

I'd also recommend trying one of our practice exams under the exam prep tab, which always include ethics questions. Finally, I'll copy below the topics that the NCMHCE wants you to know for their ethics section (found here).

This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities related to maintaining proper administrative and clinical protocols.

A. Assess your (the counselor) competency to work with a specific client

B. Understand statistical concepts and methods in research

C. Practice legal and ethical counseling

D. Clarify counselor/client roles

E. Discuss client’s rights and responsibilities

F. Discuss limits of confidentiality

G. Explain counselor/agency policies

H. Review payment, fees, and insurance benefits

I. Explain counseling processes, procedures, risks, and benefits

J. Explain uses and limits of social media

K. Inform clients about the legal aspects of counseling

L. Obtain informed consent

M. Discuss confidentiality as it applies to electronic communication

N. Establish group rules, expectations, and termination criteria

O. Assess competency to provide informed consent

P. Monitor the therapeutic relationship and build trust as needed

Q. Review client records

R. Provide adequate accommodations for clients with disabilities

S. Provide information to third parties

T. Provide referral sources if counseling services are inadequate/inappropriate

U. Advocate for professional and client issues

V. Supervision

W. Create and maintain documentation appropriate for each aspect of the counseling process

X. Awareness and practice of self-care

Are the Law and ethic exam questions written to trick you? What are some things I need to look for while taking the Law and ethics exam?