One major debate for counselors or psychologists is the costs and benefits of a dual or multiple relationship between the clinician and a client. One way a multiple relationship may occur is when a clinician is holding a professional role as well as playing another role with the same person outside of the professional setting (APA, 2002). Two major types of additional relationships a clinician may be involved in with an individual(s) is a sexual or non-sexual relationship. It is ethically wrong to engage in a sexual relationship with a current client, student, supervisee etc., leaving minimal room for debate. This leaves the debate open for therapists engaging in a non-sexual relationship with current individuals for which they hold a current professional standing. The following will discuss the positives and negatives to engaging in a multiple relationship as well as current professional recommendations. Positives Whether in a classroom setting or conducting therapy sessions, historically, a dual or multiple relationship in the mental health field has been deemed as wrong. However, certain communities or settings may make it difficult to avoid multiple relationships. These settings may be small communities like lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT), specific religions, military, graduate school programs, or rural towns. In these specific settings avoiding a multiple relationship would almost mean the clinician blocking out the world around them. Therefore, under some circumstance avoiding these relationships may actually interfere with a healthy professional interaction (Ryder & Hepworth, 1990). For example, a child who has been in therapy may ask their therapist to attend their graduation or some event of importance ... ... middle of paper ... ...ip and the type of activities this new relationship will entail (Burian & Slimp, 2000). Once deciding to enter a dual or multiple relationship the therapist should obtain informed consent that includes set boundaries, confidentiality and privacy for both parties involved (Schank, Helbrok, Haldeman, & Gallardo, 2010). The therapist should also have points of contact to discuss the ongoing relationships and review the relationships. Being educated on how to deal with multiple relationships can also benefit both parties involved. In conclusion there are two different views to multiple relationships in the mental health field. Some believe these relationships should be avoided at all costs where others believe that certain circumstances are okay. Overall when engaging in a multiple relationship one must be extremely careful to protect their client and themselves.
In this vignette, the client and social worker begin a new session at the point where the last left off. Kirsten, a college student, has come to this private practice setting to discuss her experiences, fears, and difficulties with coming out, particularly after her previous coming out experiences. In the previous sessions, the worker and Kirsten have explored many themes revolving around coming out, her experience coming out to her neighbor, and Kirsten’s anxieties about talking with her sister. The role of the social worker in this vignette is to discuss possible options with Kirsten as she moves toward talking with her sister, engaging in role play Kirsten has requested, and exploring Kirsten’s feelings about the upcoming meeting with her
Sexual relationships with previous client, resident, patient, consumers are considered dual relationships and are addressed in Statement 6 (above). He might be falling for a client which may lead to a sexual relationship. For obvious reasons it will not be in the best interest of client in helping with their problems. Judgment, reasoning, and responsibility to his client is compromised.
Psychotherapy is a verbal communication between a therapist and a patient that is intended to help the patient. It is designed to help the patient in many ways such as finding relief from emotional distress. The patient becomes less anxious, fearful, or depressed. Psychotherapy can also help to seek solutions to problems in the patient’s live. It helps with dealing with disappointment, grief, family issues, and job or career dissatisfaction. It also helps to modify ways of thinking and acting that are preventing the patient from working productively and enjoying personal relationships. Talking with a psychotherapist is different from talking with a friend in three respects that increase its likelihood of being helpful. Friends may be able and willing to listen and give advice, but qualified and duly licensed psychotherapists are trained professionals with specialized education and experience in understanding psychological problems. Second, friendships are typically mutual relationships. People take turns being helpful to each other. Psychotherapy is devoted entirely to the patient’s welfare and focused solely on the patient’s needs for symptom relief, problem solutions, or lifestyle changes. Lastly, psychotherapy involves a formal commitment to meet regularly at a designated time. They talk only about the patient’s concerns. They continue meeting as long as doing so serves the patient’s best interests. This is in contrast to the mutuality,
Throughout the second half of this semester, dual relationships have been emphasized as one of the most frequently encountered ethical dilemmas faced by behavior analysts in the field today. According to the class lectures, assigned text, and other articles that we have read, this is due to the fact that we interact with our clients and those caring for them in their natural settings. As a result, those we provide services to, and interact with, are in the places in which they feel the most comfortable, their homes or regular classrooms. This is in stark contrast to a formal office setting, which projects an atmosphere with both expected standards of acceptable behavior, and clear boundaries between client and the service provider. In an effort
Stickley, T. & Freshwater, D. (2006). “The Art of Listening to the Therapeutic Relationship” Journal of Mental health Practice. 9 (5) pp12 - 18.
As a psychologist in a mental health profession, you should avoid conflicts of interest when providing any professional services to a client. Engaging in any activity with a client that makes the boundary between a provider and a client somewhat un...
Reflecting on my work as a therapist, I recognize the importance of the therapeutic relationship. For instance, in EFT the therapist, “the therapeutic relationship, characterized by presence, empathy, acceptance, and congruence, helps clients to feel safe enough to face dreaded feelings and painful memories (Greenberg, 2014).
Over the course of their therapeutic relationship, Dr. Davenport violates client confidentiality as it is described by the American Counseling
It was also made very evident that individuals are connected to everybody else in the world in some way even when the connection is not made fully aware of. Jung stated that we are all connected through repetitive events in which we find meaningful. Research is starting to focus more on synchronicity, thus changing the way individuals view it when it comes to psychotherapy. Walt Whitman as well as Jung believe that once synchronicity is established in therapy, those experiences are then able to build off of each other. Overall, relational therapy might need to involve receptivity and sustained attention awareness in order to aide in the healing process while shifting through the therapeutic process. It was made very clear in this article that client-patient understanding is a very important concept of psychotherapy due to the fact that if the therapist cannot communicate with their patient, the problems in which the patient is suffering from cannot be solved. In addition, when therapists have a close connection with their patients, they are able to understand their feelings more than if not, therefore, they will be able to identify problems and find solutions to those problems. Synchronicity is strongly encouraged to be incorporated in psychotherapy due to the fact that such
While her therapist helps her with her father, the therapist unintentionally improves her relationship with her husband. At Southeastern Louisiana University’s common read, Smith explains, “I think I was able to meet him [her husband] because I cleared up a lot of silly stuff through therapy” (Smith). This confirmation allows the reader to receive a higher understanding of the effect therapy impacted Tracy K. Smith.
Smith, T. B., Rodríguez, M. D., & Bernal, G. (2011). Culture. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
Dr.Lightfoot ethical alternatives for resolving this case are accepting Allison as a client or declining Allison as a client. The best alternative is to decline Allison as a client but refer her to another psychologist because of the possible dual relationship. Utilitarian theory guided me in my decision.
...f dual relationship there was also a possibility of the client becoming dependant on the therapist which could be seen as unethical by the BACP (2010).
According to Syne (2006), a dual relationship occurs when people take on multiple roles in their relationships with other people. While dual relationships exists in many different aspects of our society, dual relationships between a client and counselor bring a host of challenges and opportunities for the client and counselor from an ethical standpoint. Nigro and Uhlemann (2004) explain that because of the challenges presented by dual relationships, many counselors work to avoid and prohibit them. But from an ethical standpoint, such relationships do not always negatively impact clients. As a result, dual relationships tend to be one of the top ethical dilemmas reported by therapists.
It is necessary to point out that not all dual relationships can be avoided. They live in a small town, and it is possible that this psychologist was the most qualified to help treat job related stress. The psychologist should have then consulted the appropriate APA guideline which states “multiple relationships that would not reasonably be expected to cause impairment or risk exploitation or harm are not unethical” (APA, 2010). Given this ethical guidelin...