Section 1.09 of the NASW Code of Ethics outlines a fundamental expectation for all Social Workers: maintaining strict professional boundaries when it comes to sexual relationships with clients. This section makes it crystal clear that such relationships are never appropriate and, in most cases, are unethical regardless of consent, timing, or mutual interest.

Full Text of Section 1.09: Sexual Relationships

1.09 Sexual Relationships

(a) Social Workers should under no circumstances engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with current clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced.
(b) Social Workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients’ relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a close personal relationship when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. Sexual activity or sexual contact with clients’ relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a personal relationship has the potential to be harmful to the client and may make it difficult for the Social Worker and client to maintain appropriate professional boundaries. Social Workers — not their clients, their clients’ relatives, or other individuals with whom the client maintains a personal relationship — assume the full burden for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
(c) Social Workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with former clients because of the potential for harm to the client. If Social Workers engage in conduct contrary to this prohibition or claim that an exception to this prohibition is warranted because of extraordinary circumstances, it is Social Workers — not their clients — who assume the full burden of demonstrating that the former client has not been exploited, coerced, or manipulated, intentionally or unintentionally.
(d) Social Workers should not provide clinical services to individuals with whom they have had a prior sexual relationship. Providing clinical services to a former sexual partner has the potential to be harmful to the individual and is likely to make it difficult for the Social Worker and individual to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Breaking It Down: What Each Part Really Means

(a) No sexual activity with current clients—ever

This is the most straightforward part of the section. Even if a client consents or initiates, the Social Worker must never engage in sexual activity. The imbalance of power is always present, and any such relationship is viewed as exploitative, no matter the circumstances. This rule applies under all conditions, with zero exceptions.

(b) Avoid relationships with people close to the client

This section expands the boundary to include people in the client’s inner circle, such as family members, romantic partners, or anyone with whom the client has a close personal connection. Why? Because even those relationships can affect the client’s emotional safety and sense of trust in the Social Work relationship. If there’s any risk of exploitation or harm, it’s off-limits. Importantly, the burden of maintaining that boundary falls completely on the Social Worker, who is expected to recognize risk and act accordingly.

(c) Former clients are still off-limits, with rare exceptions

You might think that once the professional relationship ends, the door opens for something personal. However, the Code strongly warns against that. The potential for harm doesn’t vanish when services stop. If a Social Worker believes a relationship might be appropriate due to “extraordinary circumstances,” they carry the responsibility of proving there was no manipulation, coercion, or harm, direct or indirect. That’s a steep hill to climb, and the assumption is always in favor of protecting the client.

(d) Never treat former sexual partners

This one is equally clear. If a Social Worker had a sexual relationship with someone in the past, they must not provide clinical services to that person later. Even if the relationship occurred years ago, the emotional baggage and history can cloud the therapeutic process, creating confusion around roles and expectations. Maintaining clinical objectivity in such cases is nearly impossible, and the potential for harm is significant.

Section 1.09 leaves little room for interpretation. It protects clients from manipulation, maintains trust in the profession, and helps Social Workers navigate situations where boundaries could easily become blurred. On the ASWB exam, understanding this section isn’t just about knowing the rule—it’s about recognizing the many ways boundary violations can appear in real-life scenarios.