Which action would be ethical and appropriate when a parent requests counseling for their child?

Prepare for the LPCC Law and Ethics Test 2. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations. Enhance your understanding of ethics and legal standards for effective counseling practice.

When working with minors, the counselor must ensure that the intervention fits the child’s developmental needs and that appropriate consent and involvement are in place. If a parent requests counseling for their child, the ethical action is to refer the child to an appropriate provider who specializes in pediatric or adolescent therapy and can conduct a proper assessment. This ensures the child receives care from someone with the right training and scope, supports beneficence and nonmaleficence, and protects confidentiality and boundaries for both the child and family. If you are equipped to work with minors, you would still need to obtain parental consent and, where appropriate, the child’s assent, and you would discuss boundaries and confidentiality, but the safest default when the match isn’t clear or specialized expertise is required is to refer to an appropriate provider.