Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

Negligence in counseling can result from what action?

1. Using unapproved techniques

2. Failing to use reasonable care in professional duties

3. Overloading clients with information

4. Implementing experimental therapies without consent

The correct answer is: Failing to use reasonable care in professional duties

Negligence in counseling is fundamentally concerned with the failure to meet the expected standard of care that a professional should provide to clients. When a counselor does not exercise reasonable care in their professional duties, this may lead to harm or inadequate support for the client, which constitutes negligence. This lack of reasonable care can include various aspects of the counseling process, such as not paying attention to the client's well-being, failing to follow established protocols, or neglecting to assess and address client risks appropriately. Using unapproved techniques, overloading clients with information, and implementing experimental therapies without consent may also raise ethical and professional concerns, but they specifically relate to various forms of malpractice or ethical violations rather than directly defining negligence. Negligence is directly tied to the counselor's duty to act with care and prudence in all therapeutic interactions. Therefore, failing to meet these obligations directly correlates to instances of negligence.