Essay on Dual Relationships Between Counselors and Clients

The therapist and client relationship is important in effective therapy. The therapeutic relationship must be built upon before any technique and theory will be effective. Communicating real empathy and showing a genuine interest in the client will begin a solid therapeutic foundation. However, the therapist must “have the ability to stay outside the system while maintaining some emotional attachment to its members” (Patterson, Williams, Edwards, Chamow, & Grauf-Grounds, 2009, p. 107). This paper reviews and critiques an interview I recorded of a couple that pertains to clutter building up around the house. The goal of this activity was to seek out information using various questioning techniques and basic interviewing skills, and

Potential ethical issues with this case is the sexuality of the clients but Human service professionals provide services without discrimination or preference based on age, ethnicity, culture, race, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. Also obtaining or sharing information with Todd’s psychiatrist Human service professionals protect the integrity, safety, and security of client records. All written client information that is shared with other professionals, except in the course of professional supervision, must have the client 's prior written consent. A legal issue is the fact that Reggie is physical with Todd and although it was the past, if it happened again I must keep in mind If it is suspected that danger or harm may occur to the client or to others as a result of a client 's behavior, the human service professional acts in an appropriate and professional manner to protect the safety of those individuals. This may involve seeking consultation, supervision, and/or breaking the confidentiality of the relationship. Also Reggie smokes marijuana which is not good for urine tests with his parole officer along with Todd’s cocaine use. Human service professionals protect the client 's right to

Once a therapist enters into a dual relationship with their clients, feelings of mistrust, unhealthy attachment, and exploitation are common. In a survey conducted by the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, a group of various females who admitted to having sexual contact with their therapists/ psychiatrists were interviewed and given a questionnaire to measure their self-esteem, depression, attitudes, and psychosomatic/psychological assumptions. The results showed that the women ranging from ages 26-45 developed a strong mistrust and anger toward these health care professionals (Feldman-Summers & Jones, 1984). This study demonstrated how much influence a therapist has on their client and shows that the bond between therapist and client is delicate and needs to be treated with both respect and understanding. “Sexual boundary violations are considered the most serious ethical infraction in the mental health profession, as well as in higher education and pastoral counseling. Recognized as unethical due to the power imbalance inherent in the structure of the therapist-patient and teacher-student dyads, erotic contact between therapists and patients has been revealed in prevalence studies to occur at an unacceptably high incidence rate (9 to 12 per cent) among mental health practitioners” (Czlenza, 2007). The imbalance of power when there is a sexual relationship present can be extremely damaging to

Dual Relationships are dangerous to the client/counselor relationship since it blurs boundaries that must be clear to have a successful, ethical relationship that is centered on the client. A dual relationship can blur the boundaries since other relationships you have with the client will not only not have the clear balance of power that the counselor/client relationship has but will also not have the objectivity and client-centered relationship you must have with them. If you have one relationship with a client as their counselor and another as peer, your relationship with them as a peer can seep into your role as their counselor. In the case of dual relationships, the rule of thumb is “the fewer roles, the better” (p. 565).

A dual relationship is defined by the American Psychological Association as one in which a psychotherapist is in not only a professional relationship with a client, but is also either in a non-professional relationship with that client or in a non-professional relationship with someone who is close to that client (APA, 2010). In Lying on the Couch (Yalom, 1997), Dr. Streider enters a professional relationship with Peter Macondo, who

Ms. Wegner picked up contact once again with Client A in January of 2016, and engaged in sexual conduct. Ms. Wegner was aware of the ethical scope of social work boundaries and had even provided training on the topic to other social workers and staff. The respondent has taken upon her own initiative to get mental health treatment and has not continued practicing since January 12, 2016. The respondent denies any wrong-doing, but consents to following Conclusions of Law and Order.

Human services is known as the helping profession by many, when helping though we should keep in mind that ethics are a large part of the profession. Professional ethics can be defined as a codification of the special obligations that arise out of a person’s choice to become a professional (Dolgoff, Harrington, & Loewenberg, 2012). When looking the ethics of human services or social work they are intended to help the practitioners in the field recognize morally correct practice and learn how to decide and act ethically in professional situations (Dolgoff, Harrington, & Loewenberg, 2012). There are so many things to consider when it comes to ethics in the human service profession, I will highlight many of them throughout this paper, starting with dual relationships.

In most if not all professions, there are moral and ethical codes that must be followed. It is done so in order to maintain a level of professionalism, protection for the consumer of the services, and representation for the profession. Mental Health counselors have code of ethics which they go by as well to establish a universal standard of expectation and delivery. No matter the type of client you are helping, there are universal ethic codes that must be followed. Ethical Issues in Eating Disorders Treatment: Four Illustrative Scenarios is a series of articles that discusses four of the ethical practices that must and should be used by counselors. Even though the article is using scenarios dealing with eating disorders, the ethics that the

Unfortunately, some mental health counselors may engage in behaviors that do not benefit the client and eventually lead to harm. Mental health counselors are required to refrain from entering dual relationships possess the possibility of impairing the professional judgment of the mental health counselors and increases the risk of harm to the client. Mental health counselors need to be aware of the potential intimacy of the counseling relationship and avoid and abstain from actions or behaviors in which the mental health counselors gains from the relationship at the expense of their client such as romantic relationships with the client or any member of their family (AMCHA, 2015). Mental health counselors may also encounter situations in which their religious and cultural values conflict with the values of their clients or the ethical standards. When the counselor's personal values interfere with the counseling process it becomes an ethical issue and may harm the

Ethics codes are put in place to guide the conduct of their members and set the precedence of how one should behave. The ethical status of professional boundaries and the ethical nature of dual and overlapping relationships in the counseling realm remain continuing issues and are very complex. A boundary crossing is moving away from what occurs in a normal professional situation and it is beneficial to a client. A boundary violation is a breach that negatively affects the client. When and if a dual relationship involves exploitation of a client that relationship is definitely a boundary violation. Boundary violations are unethical (Corey, Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2014, p.260). As counselors we need to be cautious with dual relationships

Mr. John Lancaster violated 18 VA 115-20-130(B)(1), 155-20-130(D)(1) and (4), and 18 VAC 115-20-140 (A)(3), and (7). Mr. Lancaster was involved in a dual relationship with a minor client. He engaged in activities outside the clinical setting, such as, shopping, eating out, wrestling, and playing video games with the client. He even communicated with the client by text message. Mr. Lancaster’s license to practice counseling in Virginia was suspended indefinitely for no more the 18 months. This particle case was disturbing to me because not only did Mr. Lancaster show his lack of discipline, but he violated his trust and professionalism with the client. Not only did he have a relationship with a client, but the client was underage. That’s horrible. Based on the cases that I reviewed, counselors were suspending due to monetary fraud and dual

On the contrary, legal issues and ethical principles differ alone the professional guidelines of practice. Legal issues are surrounded by criminal, civil, or juvenile law; in which rules of society governs how individual should conduct themselves peacefully among one another (Kaminsky, 2013). Although when practitioners follow ethical principles such a ACA Code of Ethic, he or she is counseling within a professional realm of upholding confidentiality and the duty to protect. Some legal issues novice counselors should be aware of when working with at-risk youth are: illegal substance use, youth sexuality dealing with STDs/AIDs, delinquency, youth suicide, and cyber bullying (McWhirter et al., 2013). Many of these legal issues are creations of generational cycles that have not been corrected from the source that it has spawn

Geyer (1994) defines dual relationships as occurring when a mental health practitioner, “relates to a client in roles other than that of a mental health practitioner outside the therapeutic context” (p.187). Areas outside of context may include church, social gatherings, and organized events to name a few. The term dual relationship is interchangeably used with multiple relationships or nonprofessional relations. Corey et al. (2011) further defines this role as a professional who assumes multiple, two or more, roles at the same time with a client. The following paper will look to address a literature review of dual relationships along with a review of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist (CAMFT) and American Counseling Association (ACA) ethics codes regarding the topic. I will further provide personal reflections and values as they relate to dual relationships. In closing I will provide an ethical resolution to a hypothetical case and provide final thoughts.

A Michigan psychologist entered a relationship with a former patient (Haxel, 2017). According to the American Counseling Association, sexual and romantic relationships with formal clients or their immediate circle of family and friends is prohibited within five years following the last contact with the client (American Counseling Association, 2014). This psychiatrist entered his relationship within that period violating this code of ethics. Not only did he violate this code, he also violated the local, state, and federal laws he swore to obey (Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals, 2015). Michigan law states that mental health professionals cannot have sexual contact with patients within two years of being a client (Haxel, 2017). He paid no attention to anything but what he wanted. He was charged with 4 counts of criminal sexual misconduct by a mental health professional (Haxel, 2017). He goes to court in October where each count can carry a sentence of up to two years in prison.

When discussing the importance of professional boundaries in mental health work, most people think first of relationships between psychotherapists and clients. However, similar boundary considerations are relevant for professor–student relationships, supervisor–supervisee relationships, consultant–consultee relationships, and researcher–participant relationships. Although different dynamics are at play, the relationships psychologists have with each other, with other professionals, and with the general public have boundaries that warrant ethical consideration as well. The American Psychological Association (APA) offers some guidance. The APA Ethics Code says, in Standard 7.07: "Psychologists do not engage in sexual relationships with