Dual relationships Flashcards
Nonprofessional interactions
“Counselors avoid entering into nonprofessional relationships with former clients, their
romantic partners, or their family members when the interaction is potentially harmful to
the client.”
“Counselors avoid entering into non-professional relationships with former clients, their
romantic partners, or their family members when the interaction is potentially beneficial to
the client” For both in personal and electronic.
Potentially beneficial interactions-Counselor-client nonprofessional interaction with a client
or former client may be potentially beneficial to the client or former client, counselor must
document in case records, prior to the interaction (when feasible): rationale for such as
interaction, potential benefit, and anticipated consequences for the client or former client
and other individuals significantly involved with the client or former client.
Obtain appropriate client consent.
If unintentional harm occurs to the client or former client, counselor must show evidence of
an attempt to remedy such harm (ACA, 2014).
School counselors
A. 5. Sustaining Healthy Relationships and Managing Boundaries (10 standards).
Key ideas: Relationships beyond school settings, document interactions, reduce harm, prevent harm, refrain from
social media use, avoid discipline, avoid conflict.
Assess potential risks and benefits prior to extending relationships beyond the school building and school hours
(e.g., attending students off-site extracurricular activities, celebrations honoring students, hospital visits, funerals).
Previous relationships
Previous relationships. “Counselors consider the risks and benefits of accepting as a clients
those with whom they have had a previous relationship. These potential clients may
include individuals with whom the counselor has had a casual, distant, or past relationship.
Examples, include mutual or past membership in a professional association, organization,
or community. When counselors accept these clients, they take appropriate professional
precautions such as informed consent, consultation, supervision, and documentation to
ensure that judgement is not impaired and no exploitation occurs.”
Obtain appropriate client consent.
Underlying dynamics of therapeutic relationship
- fiduciary relationship-promote clients well-being
- clients emotional involvement-therapeutic bond
- power imbalance: role slippage/confidentiality
Things to consider
How divergent are the 2 counselor roles?
Is promoting the client’s welfare the exclusive motivation of the relationship?
Does the sociocultural context of the client make the boundary crossing more important to therapeutic process?
Can the professional attain the same degree of objectivity and competent practice as is achieved in other
professional relationships?
Is misuse of the professional’s power a plausible occurrence?
Is the professional reasonably certain that the crossing will not negatively affect the client’s emotional
involvement or capacity to achieve the therapeutic goal?
Is the multiple relationship truly unavoidable?
Has an informed consent procedure been undertaken so that the client understands its risks?
Have the client and professional developed an alternative plan?
Is the professional committed to diligently following up?
complexities of multiple relationships
Potential dual relationships can be difficult to recognize.
Can be harmful, benign, or beneficial to client.
Little consensus among mental health professionals regarding the propriety of multiple
relationships (except sexual/romantic).
Cultural considerations.
Expectations to participate in community events. If isolated, then regarded as not invested
in others/community.
Implications
Self reflect on what dual relationships mean to you.
Establish support systems.
Utilize those professional resources.
Navigate fair share non-school counselor roles.
