What does therapeutic deception entail when practiced by a counselor?

Therapeutic deception, when practiced by a counselor, involves providing clients with misleading or inaccurate information regarding aspects of their treatment or therapy. In this context, option C refers specifically to a situation where a counselor might misleadingly represent sexual activity as being beneficial to the treatment process. This type of deception can harm the therapeutic relationship and undermine the client's trust, which is foundational in counseling.

In therapeutic settings, honesty and transparency are crucial, and any form of deception can lead to ethical violations and potential harm to clients. Misrepresenting facts about treatment methods, especially regarding sensitive topics such as sexual activity, can have serious implications for the client's mental health and overall well-being.

The other options relate to ethical standards and best practices in counseling. Strict confidentiality is essential in therapy but is not an example of therapeutic deception. Professional integrity is about transparency and honesty rather than misleading clients. Engaging clients in wholesome activities aligns with ethical practices but does not involve deception. Each of these is indicative of ethical behavior rather than a deceptive practice, which emphasizes why option C is the correct choice.