1. Combining the roles of therapist and teacher 2. Bartering therapy for goods and services 3. Providing therapy to a relative or a friend’s relative 4. Socializing outside therapy sessions 5. Becoming emotionally or sexually involved with a client or a former client (given past termination rules and timelines which exist in the profession)
Why are dual relationships ethically wrong?
The merging of a professional relationship with another kind of relationship or role can be described as ethically wrong when the merging of these two roles reflects a lack of awareness or concern about the impact of our behaviour on our clients. The primary goal of therapeutic practice is to serve and benefit the well-being of the client. When we place our needs, or desires whether these be financial, social or emotional above the well-being of our clients we are behaving unethically.
Dual Relationship Scale
High Risk Risk of serious harm
Prohibited behaviour (e.g. sexual relationships)
Risk of moderate harm
Highly discouraged behaviour e.g. friendships with clients, treating relatives, treating friends, merging role of teacher and therapist
Low Risk Risk of unlikely harm
Discouraged behaviour (e.g. bartering for services, socializing with clients, accepting gratuities) Individual discretion (e.g. any type of behaviour which does not fall into the above categories, but which could merge roles)
Risk of unforeseeable harm
High Risk
The first set of dual relationships on the scale are defined as "High Risk". These are situations which pose the greatest potential for harm to the client. The most obvious example is a sexual relationship with a client. This is almost universally prohibited by law and by professional codes of ethics.
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