National Counselor Exam Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive Study Resource

When counseling a relative's child who is experiencing depression, the ethical issue primarily revolves around the concept of a dual relationship. A dual relationship occurs when a counselor engages in two or more roles with a client that may compromise their objectivity, professionalism, or effectiveness in providing care.

In this specific scenario, the counselor has a personal relationship with the child's family, which can create complications in the therapeutic process. This relationship may lead to biased perspectives, conflicts of interest, or difficulty maintaining professional boundaries, potentially hampering the effectiveness of treatment. Ethical guidelines, particularly from organizations like the American Counseling Association, emphasize the importance of maintaining clear professional boundaries to safeguard the integrity of the counseling relationship and to ensure that the client's best interests are prioritized.

While it is possible that counseling the child could leverage existing rapport, the potential for the dual relationship to interfere with objectivity and professionalism is a significant ethical concern. Informed consent does offer a framework for discussing these issues, but the inherent conflict of interest in the personal connection complicates the counseling process.