Law and Ethics Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary action a therapist should take when a client expresses thoughts of harming an ex-partner is to explore the nature of those thoughts and determine if the client has a plan. This approach is central to assessing the seriousness and immediacy of the threat. Understanding the content of the client's thoughts helps gauge their potential risk to others and whether or not those thoughts are accompanied by a specific plan to act on them. Gathering this information allows the therapist to make informed decisions about necessary interventions, which may include a referral for further psychological support or crisis management protocols.

Additionally, this exploration directly ties into ethical considerations for therapists, particularly the duty to protect. If there is an imminent risk determined through assessment, appropriate steps can be taken to ensure the safety of the potential victim.

Determining a client's history of violence and access to a weapon can be significant, but it is secondary to first understanding the current state of the client's thoughts and intentions. Meanwhile, warning the ex-girlfriend and notifying the police may be necessary if the risk is deemed high, but these actions typically follow an assessment of the situation rather than being the primary focus during the initial disclosure. Referring the client to an anger management group may be helpful for long-term intervention depending on the assessment outcome,