Essay On Counselling Relationship

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Recommended: Ethics in counselling

The person-to-person counselling relationship is a special type of relationship, established by a client seeking help and has a particular purpose. This relationship is a partnership based on mutual respect and collaboration and involves trust and expectation that the counsellor will provide with a safe and secure environment which will benefit the process of counselling or treatment (Gerald & Gerald 2012, p. 373).
It is a very important for counsellor to understand that counselling relationship is not an equal and the counsellor has a position of power while the person seeking for help is usually in the position of influence (Gerald & Gerald 2012, p. 373).
Ethical communication is essential in any professional field (O’Toole 2008, p. 138). There are different Codes of Ethics exist to establish ethical principles and guidelines for practitioners. The particular importance in Codes of Ethics is given to boundaries as a very important aspect of any therapeutic relationship. Boundaries set the structure of the relationship, help to maintain the standards of behaviour and make therapeutic relationship efficient, that will benefit the client, promote the service provided and protect both parties (O’Toole 2008, p. 147; Zur 2004, p. 1).
If crossing boundaries occurs it is almost always affect the counsellor’s special position of trust as a professional, diminish the ability to help the client, which become damaging to the person seeking help (Gerald & Gerald 2012, p. 373). Boundary crossing usually occurs when counsellor or practitioner allow dual relationship with a client, which means assuming two or more roles. As an example it could be the situation when a client is also a friend, partner, ex-partner, relative or colleague. Mutual re...

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...eeking help. In this situation risks are obviously outweigh the benefits.
If practitioner finds that there is a relationship which may cause potential harm to the client or impair professional judgment he must take every effort to resolve the situation with maximal compliance with the Ethics Code (Corey 1996, p.67; Corey & Corey 2003, p.256).
According to decision-making model presented by Herlihy and Corey in this situation Michael should decline Julia’s suggestions about catching up after work, explain the rationale of refusal, based on the factors that dual relationship will affect his ability to provide the highest possible standards of care and therefore will affect Julia’s recovery. Also Michael could offer a referral to another professional if this will benefit the process of Julia’s treatment and help with her health promotion (Corey & Corey 2003, p.260).

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