ASWB Clinical Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Resource

The appropriate course of action for a social worker when asked for a child custody recommendation from current clients is to decline the request because both individuals are current counseling clients. This situation presents a conflict of interest.

In clinical practice, social workers have an ethical obligation to maintain objectivity and ensure that their professional judgment is not compromised. When both clients are receiving services from the same social worker, the quality of therapeutic relationships and the integrity of the social worker's role could be jeopardized. Providing a custody recommendation could create a dual relationship, which may lead to biases and conflicts that can affect the best interests of the child involved.

Moreover, confidentiality and the maintenance of a safe environment for both clients are paramount. By declining to provide the recommendation, the social worker upholds ethical standards and ensures that both clients can continue to explore their individual issues within the therapeutic setting without the added pressure of a recommendation that could impact their relationship and therapeutic progress.

This aligns with the broader ethical considerations in social work practice that prioritize the welfare of clients and the integrity of the therapeutic process.