Week 12: Professional Relationships and Boundaries

Question 1

Describe situations where a psychologist might find themselves in multiple relationships

Answer 1

• in a non professional relationship with the same client
• in a different professional relationship with the same client
• in a non professional relationship with an associated party
• a recipient of a service provided by the same client

Question 2

Potential multiple relationships

Answer 2

• sexual
• non sexual
• financial conflicts
• business

Question 3

Examples of financial conflicts

Answer 3

Bartering for goods and services

Question 4

Example of business multiple relationships

Answer 4

• employer/employee
• supervisor/therapist
• therapist/business partner

Question 5

Boundaries

Answer 5

Structure for process and safety of client. Boundary between professional and personal lives of client and therapist

Question 6

Boundary crossings

Answer 6

• departure from common practice with the intent to help a client
• intent to help indicates decision making

Question 7

Boundary violations

Answer 7

• departure from accepted practice

- may cause client harm

Question 8

Describe section C.3.1

Answer 8

• conflict of interest
• multiple relationships that may impair competence or effectiveness
• may harm clients
• lead to client exploitation

Question 9

Describe section C.4.1

Answer 9

Psychologists do not exploit people with whom they have had a professional relationship

Question 10

Describe section C.4.2

Answer 10

Psychologists do not exploit their relationships with their assistants, employees, colleagues or supervisors

Question 11

Describe the impact of multiple relationships

Answer 11

• prevents impaired objectivity
• enables therapist to challenge and confront client
• enables client to trust the therapist
• safety from ambiguity and confusion regarding relationship
• provides therapeutic structure
• prevents falling down slippery slope

Question 12

How to manage multiple relationships

Answer 12

• tolerate some ambiguity
• consult colleagues for professional accountability
• informed consent
• open discussion about potential negative impact of multiple roles

Question 13

Risks of having too crazy boundaries tho

Answer 13

• ruining the therapeutic alliance
• intensifies the power differential
• dehumanisation
• impact of therapeutic orientation

Question 14

Self disclosure

Answer 14

The disclosure of personal information, thoughts, beliefs and feelings

Question 15

What do you need to consider associated with self disclosure?

Answer 15

• will disclosing info align with therapeutic goals?
• respect for client
• the clients feelings towards you
• clients purpose for asking

Question 16

Three types of needed disclosure

Answer 16

• full disclosure of mechanism of therapy
• discretionary sharing of here and now feelings
• cautionary and well timed disclosure of personal life

Question 17

When is it ok to accept gifts

Answer 17

• promotes rather than endangers clients welfare
• token of appreciation consistent with client’s cultural norms and a small monetary value
• rare sent in counselling rather than recurrent practice
• when gift does not compromise objectivity or competence

Question 18

Describe section C.4.3

Answer 18

• no sexual relationships with clients or relatives
• no sexual relationships or relatives within two years of counselling them
• those who do after two years consult and ask for advice
• don’t accept a former sexual partner as client

Question 19

Considerations in relationships with former clients

Answer 19

• length of professional relationship
• nature of the professional relationship
• clients mental state at commencing relationship
• circumstances in which professional relo ended
• duration of time past since ending professional relo

Question 20

Emotional competence

Answer 20

The ability to maintain and regulate your emotions around clients and around your personal life