Which of the following is a situation in which a counselor must avoid engaging in sexual behavior?

In the context of ethical standards and professional conduct for counselors, avoiding sexual behavior with a client or student over whom they have authority is essential to maintaining professional boundaries and integrity. This situation directly creates a power imbalance, where the counselor's position can significantly influence the client's decisions, vulnerability, and emotional state. Engaging in sexual behavior in this context can lead to exploitation, conflicts of interest, and damage to the therapeutic relationship, as the client may feel pressured or unable to freely give consent.

Furthermore, many ethical guidelines across counseling organizations explicitly prohibit sexual relationships with clients due to the inherent power differential. This protection aims to ensure that clients feel safe and respected in their interactions with counselors.

While it is also advisable to maintain boundaries in relationships with friends, professional peers, or family members of clients, these situations do not carry the same legal and ethical implications as the counselor-client relationship governed by authority. Therefore, the necessity to avoid sexual behavior with a client or student over whom the counselor has authority is a paramount consideration in upholding ethical standards in counseling practices.