A dual relationship in psychotherapy is an initiated relationship other than the preconditioned relationship within the therapy setting. Dual relationships can be formed in many ways which at times is unavoidable. For instance, if the therapist is mandated to testify in court, or when a therapist and their client are business partners, their relationship is considered unavoidable.
However, these relations can be toxic in maintaining the integrity of the therapeutic process, and this majorly affects the client. Psychotherapy patients are always vulnerable and may become easy targets for exploitation from greedy therapists. Dual relationships can be problematic in professional ethics since it breaks the objectivity, boundary, and creates overdependence that is harmful to the client.
To avoid unnecessary dual relationships, I will define my limits by maintaining professionalism in all interactions with clients to keep away from avoidable relations.
Effect of Dual Relationship in Psychotherapy
According to Burgard (2013), a dual relationship with a client results in loss of professionalism which is associated with poor judgment and decision making. The reason is that other relationships beyond the therapist-client bracket violate the ethics of operation since the new relation replaces objectivity. The agenda of the meeting is most disrupted because the discussion will not be therapeutic, but rather more casual because it now accommodates other external issues. Following the possibility of poor judgement, the therapist may release biased results to accommodate the needs of this new “friend”.
Forming more than one relationship with a therapist may potentially harm the client. The reason is that multiple relations results in overdependence, which is a serious limitation of mental stability. The therapist becomes superior because he has vital information concerning the client’s mental state. Also, he probably knows the intelligence quotient of the client, and this can be used against the client.
For instance, if a therapist is a client’s professor, the teacher may grade the student a fail when they make small errors. This is because they are aware of their mental issue beyond the class familiarity.
American Counselling Association
According to the American Counselling Association, therapists are prohibited from indulging in sexual or romantic interactions with their clients. This is to avoid the exploitation that may occur from abandoning professionalism. This is the first tool I wish to apply in my line of work. Avoiding relations with your client is also crucial in maintaining respect between the two parties.
Relations that compromise the supervisory relationship degrades the dignity of operation. Some dual relationships cannot be avoided such as forensic or communal dual relationship. Here, the therapist is advised to take much caution to avoid mixing work standards with the social norms. For instance, if I am required to be a forensic partner with my patient, I will consider maintaining consensual interaction, consulting with my instructor, and documenting even the smallest information. This helps to ensure that my judgment is not faulted and no exploitation occurs.
Conclusion
Although sexual and romantic relationships can be avoided, other relations such as communal or forensic may be impossible to avoid. In such cases, proper precautions should be taken to ensure that operations’ ethics are not compromised. Dual relationships can be a hindrance since it affects the boundaries of professionalism, objectivity. It is also potentially harmful to the client. Therefore, it is essential to maintain professionalism to create an unbreakable boundary that will not affect the parties involved.