At the heart of ethical social work practice is the principle of respecting a person’s right to choose their own path—even when that path doesn’t align with what we think is best. Section 1.02 of the NASW Code of Ethics challenges social workers to honor client autonomy while also knowing when intervention is ethically required.

Here’s the full standard:

1.02 Self-Determination
Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Social workers may limit clients’ right to self-determination when, in the social workers’ professional judgment, clients’ actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others.

Breaking It Down

This standard contains two equally important mandates:

  • Promote client autonomy

    • Help clients set their own goals

    • Avoid imposing your values or making decisions for them

    • Support their agency, even when their choices seem flawed or difficult

  • Know when to step in

    • If a client’s choices could cause serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm (to themselves or others), a social worker has both a right and a responsibility to limit that autonomy

    • This includes interventions like crisis hospitalization, involuntary reporting, or legal action—but only in extreme and time-sensitive situations

In Practice and on the Licensing Exam

  • A teen wants to drop out of school and become a musician. You disagree—but that’s not grounds to override their decision. Your job is to help them think through the consequences and make informed choices.

  • A client with schizophrenia refuses medication. Unless they are at imminent risk of harming themselves or others, you must respect their decision—even if you believe treatment would help.

  • A client expresses vague suicidal ideation with no plan or intent. Supportive counseling and safety planning may be more ethical than reporting or hospitalization at this stage.

Practice Question

Self-determination doesn’t mean agreeing with every decision—it means honoring a client’s right to make their own. Social workers walk the line between empowerment and protection every day, and this standard reminds us to do both with care, judgment, and humility. Let's try these principles out in a practice question:

A client diagnosed with bipolar disorder tells their social worker they’ve stopped taking their prescribed medication because they feel “more creative and alive” without it. The client denies suicidal thoughts, is not exhibiting risky behavior, and is maintaining employment. What is the most ethical response?

A. Respect the client’s decision and continue working toward their goals

B. Contact the client’s psychiatrist to report noncompliance

C. Begin an involuntary commitment process due to noncompliance

D. Require the client to resume medication as a condition for continued treatment

You probably can do this one without much effort, since we just covered the material.

The client has the right to self-determination unless their actions pose an imminent risk. The social worker can educate, explore concerns, and encourage ongoing support—but must ultimately respect the client’s decision. The answer is A.

Get much more practice with questions like these on SWTP's full-length tests.

Take Me There Now.




April 25, 2025
Categories :
  ethics  
  practice  
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