Lois, a first-year intern, faces a difficult case involving sexuality and guilt. What would be best for Lois to do?

• A. Let the client know that she is very new in this work, is uncertain about how to proceed, and would like to either work with him under close supervision, or refer him to another counselor.
• B. Proceed without supervision.
• C. Refer the client to a sex therapist immediately without supervision.
• D. Ignore the issue and hope it resolves.

Answer: (A)

When a case involves a difficult, sensitive area like sexuality and guilt, the priority is to practice within your competence and protect the client’s safety. For a first-year intern, that means being honest about limits and ensuring supervision or referral so the client receives appropriately experienced guidance. The best course is to tell the client that you’re new and unsure how to proceed, and propose to work with him under close supervision or refer him to another counselor. This approach keeps transparency and consent at the forefront, establishes a plan for supervision, and preserves trust, while also ensuring the client receives effective care from someone with the necessary experience. Moving forward without supervision risks providing inadequate or inappropriate intervention, and skipping the issue or referring immediately to a sex therapist without supervision bypasses crucial professional oversight during a sensitive phase of treatment.