when the client asks the worker for advice about a possible course of action, it is probably best

What is an appropriate counselor response when a client asks for advice?

d. instruction/psychoeducation. What is an appropriate counselor response when clients sometimes ask you directly for advice? a. Give the client psychoeducational instruction based on your personal experience. b. Offer your opinion; the right advice fosters independence in the client.

What is a social worker's most appropriate response to a client?

The social worker's MOST appropriate response is to: Encourage the client to talk about her feelings and perceptions. A hospital social worker meets with parents who refuse to provide appropriate medical care to their 6-year-old daughter with a life threatening illness because of their religious beliefs.

How can a crisis worker determine whether a client fully understands commitment?

One way in which a crisis worker may determine whether the client fully understands a commitment is to ask the client to summarize the action steps that he or she plans to take. Silence is also golden at times in crisis counseling.

How do you give the client advice?

Give the client advice based on your best assessment of the client's problem. c. Ask the client to explore the issue from a different perspective first. "Let me show you how to put the toy together.

Why do clients ask personal questions?

Usually it is because they are trying to determine if you have the life experience required to address their issue.

Do clients respect boundaries?

Some clients will respect your boundaries, and others will constantly test them. The degree to which the client in question consistently places their own emotional needs above your comfort level will help determine how, or if, you answer personal questions.

What is the role of a social worker when a client lacks mental capacity to provide informed consent?

So, if a client lacks mental capacity to provide informed consent, a social worker is generally supposed to seek consent from a third party who is responsible for making decisions. In the scenario stated above, the question is whether it is ethical for the social worker to be this “third party,” to act on behalf of the client. The answer is a clear and firm, “It depends.”

What happens if a family member thinks the proxy is misusing the client's financial resources?

If a family member thinks the proxy is misusing the client’s financial resources, there could be conflict, as well as legal actions. Acting as a proxy can be enjoyable, gratifying work, but you can expect many challenges along the way.

What does a social worker believe?

Social workers believe in client self-determination, meaning that they respect the right of clients to make decisions on their own behalf. What happens, however, when a client is no longer capable of making his or her own decisions? If a client, lawyer, judge, or family member suggests that a social worker should act as a proxy on the client’s behalf, what ethical considerations should the worker take into account? Note that proxies (or surrogate decision-makers) can be appointed to make health care decisions and/or financial decisions.

What should social workers consider when assuming a proxy role?

In addition to considering benefits, social workers should consider the ethical and legal risks of assuming the proxy role. First, there may be issues of conflicting interests and dual relationships (Standard 1.06 of the NASW Code). If the social worker has been serving the client as a clinical counselor, for instance, ...

What is conflict of interest in counseling?

Another conflict of interest may arise in regard to acting as a proxy and continuing to act as a clinical counselor after the client has lost mental capacity. The worker’s views on what is good for the client and consistent with the client’s wishes may be affected by what happens in counseling.

What is the final area of concern?

A final area of concern relates to the potential disputes that the worker may need to manage with regard to the client’s family and friends. If there is high conflict, the worker should be prepared for how to manage this conflict—in terms of having the clinical skills and the time to deal with the conflict.

Do social workers charge less than proxies?

Social workers often charge less than professional proxies such as lawyers and accountants. (Of course, this is a benefit to the client and client’s heirs, rather than to the social worker.) The client may prefer that the social worker is the proxy, which would be honoring client wishes and self-determination.