Is it ethical to adopt a client who you counsel?

I have a client who is 16. she will be 17 in a few months. She is currently living with relatives because of behavioral problems at home. It was not done through the courts.The relatves feel stressed because the parents have not given them any money and the mother calls daily to question everything they do. Now they want to return him because they are now having marital problems. They believe it is safe. I do not. There is years and years of physical and emotional abuse. She is scared to go back. She has asked if she could live with me. I would take her in a heart beat. She deserves a loving home without the stress of feeling that she's not wanted.

Answer:
First of all, if you're a social worker, then I'm concerned because your grammar lacks some to be desired for someone who has a Masters degree...so part of me questions the validity of this question.
Second, I too question how you talk about a girl, then you switch to saying, "him." Are you trying to hide the real sex so it doesn't look worse for you? Or again, is this a real question?
Third, you should NEVER adopt someone that you counsel. Boundaries are extremely important when doing therapy and it's very important to teach this young child (girl or boy) about boundaries. You're the role model, you're the professional, it's up to YOU to set the boundaries with this child. It's common for children to see therapists as a savior, but you should be the one to explain that that's common (but still setting the boundary).
I once counseled a client whose case worker adopted him and he was a mess because of those boundaries. His "mother" was no longer his case worker and he had trouble converting that in his mind. She wanted to be the mom, but he still saw her as his case worker and not his mom. In some words, don't do it. Besides, you never mentioned that the child was even up for adoption.

Unethical unethical unethical. I question your motives - everyone else will, too.

Not unless you pass the case off to another worker BEFORE you begin the adoption process.

Good Luck.

You have an ethical and moral dilemma. Ethically you can not do what you deem to be morally right. The best thing is for you to find her someone, who you can trust to take care of her, and you can still oversee. In that way you may regain your objectivity.

I would adopt:)

Whoa! Dude!!

I can only guess which profession you belong to. Read your guidance and ethics programme.

The fact that she has asked to live with you discloses an unhealthy relationship. I'm not suggesting that's your fault, but you really should hand her case over for someone else to deal with.

Extremely unethical. You are supposedly a trained professional and you know what boundaries and transference mean. This would be very unhealthy. I can truly understand your feelings having been in psychiatry for 17 years, there are some cases which you really want to step in and "save". The question I have for you is why did you change gender on your patient? You called her "she", then referred to her as "him". Perhaps just a typo. Perhaps you should talk to a colleague or mentor and get their take on this rather than Y/A.

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Is it ethical to adopt a client who you counsel?

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