Dual Relationship Case Study

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Question/Topic 1 What is a dual relationship? A dual or multiple relationship is one in which a relationship between two or more people involves more than one type of relationship. Zur (2015) notes that, in psychotherapy, dual or multiple relationships refer to “any situation where multiple roles exist between a therapist and a client. Examples of dual relationships are when the client is also a student, friend, family member, employee, or business associate of the therapist.” In the situation of a client/provider-counselor, if the only relationship the two have involves counseling, there is only one relationship between the two and it is a professional one. While dual relationships may or may not be problematic, there is an increased potential for problems. One problem noted by Zur (2007) with a dual relationship between a client and a counselor is a power differential. Clients seek assistance from counselors for issues they are facing. In their …show more content…

Development of counselor competence is continuous and ongoing throughout a counselor’s career, from training to retirement. Competence is defined by R. Epstein and Hundert (2002) as “the habitual and judicious use of communication, knowledge, technical skills, clinical reasoning, emotions, values, and reflections in daily practice for the benefit of the individual and community being served”. A systematic method and model for considering what competence is and means was proposed by Rodolfa et al. in 2005. Incorporated in this model are several foundational and functional competency areas relevant to understanding a counselor’s competency activities. Also important for a competent counselor is the maintenance of knowledge and skills through continuing education, a requirement of all states for license renewal and license continuance (Houser and Thoma, 2013, p. 134). Discussion of what is meant by foundational and functional competencies

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