True or False: A counselor may not terminate professional services to enter into a nonprofessional relationship.

True or False: A counselor may not terminate professional services to enter into a nonprofessional relationship.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Conditional on the circumstances
• D. Only in specific cases

Answer: (A)

The statement is true because ethical guidelines established for counselors, often reflected in state laws and professional standards, dictate that counselors must maintain professional boundaries with their clients. Terminating professional services solely to engage in a nonprofessional relationship can lead to conflicts of interest, potential exploitation, and a breach of trust, which is detrimental to the client's well-being. Counselors are trained to understand that the therapeutic relationship is built on trust, professionalism, and ethical integrity, and crossing this boundary can undermine the effectiveness of the counseling process. Thus, it is established that a counselor should not terminate their professional relationship to pursue a nonprofessional one, ensuring the integrity of the counseling profession and the protection of client welfare.

The statement is true because ethical guidelines established for counselors, often reflected in state laws and professional standards, dictate that counselors must maintain professional boundaries with their clients. Terminating professional services solely to engage in a nonprofessional relationship can lead to conflicts of interest, potential exploitation, and a breach of trust, which is detrimental to the client's well-being. Counselors are trained to understand that the therapeutic relationship is built on trust, professionalism, and ethical integrity, and crossing this boundary can undermine the effectiveness of the counseling process. Thus, it is established that a counselor should not terminate their professional relationship to pursue a nonprofessional one, ensuring the integrity of the counseling profession and the protection of client welfare.