California Law and Ethics Practice Exam

Which of the following explicitly prohibits dual relationships?

1. The Code of Ethics Standard 1.06 (c)

2. The State Licensing Board

3. The NASW Performance Standards

4. The APA Ethical Guidelines

The correct answer is: The Code of Ethics Standard 1.06 (c)

The Code of Ethics Standard 1.06 (c) explicitly prohibits dual relationships, making it the correct answer. This standard is part of the ethical framework guiding social work practices, emphasizing the importance of maintaining professional boundaries to protect clients' welfare. Dual relationships occur when professionals engage in multiple roles with a client, which can lead to conflicts of interest and can impair the professional's objectivity and effectiveness. Maintaining clear boundaries is vital in any helping profession, as dual relationships can compromise the integrity of the client's experience and the professional's judgment. The prohibition serves to ensure that the therapeutic relationship remains focused solely on the client's needs without the potential complications introduced by overlapping personal or social connections. In contrast, while the State Licensing Board and the NASW Performance Standards provide guidelines and regulatory frameworks for practice, they may not explicitly state the prohibition of dual relationships in as detailed a manner as the Code of Ethics. Similarly, the APA Ethical Guidelines also address dual relationships, but they may not be as specific or tailored to certain fields as the Code of Ethics Standard 1.06 (c) is for social work. Thus, the most direct and clear prohibition of dual relationships comes from the specified Code of Ethics.