In what way should social workers engage with clients according to the Code of Ethics?

Social workers are guided by the ethical principle of respecting client autonomy, which emphasizes the importance of allowing clients to make their own decisions and express their own values and beliefs. Active listening is a crucial aspect of this engagement, as it helps to build trust and ensures that clients feel understood and valued. This approach empowers clients, enabling them to take an active role in their own care and decision-making processes.

By engaging in a way that prioritizes active listening and client autonomy, social workers foster a collaborative and supportive therapeutic environment. This aligns with the commitment to client-centered practices found within the Social Work Code of Ethics, which highlights the significance of understanding clients' perspectives and experiences without imposing the social worker's own beliefs or decisions on them.

The other options suggest approaches that do not uphold the ethical standards expected within social work, such as imposing values or controlling decisions, which would undermine the client's capability to self-determine and be an agent of change in their own life. Disallowing emotional expression would also violate the ethical responsibility to support clients' emotional and mental well-being. In contrast, the correct choice reinforces the essential values of respect, empowerment, and collaboration in social work practice.