Unlikely Risk
Finally, we come to the category of "Unlikely Risk". This is not to say that behaviours in this category will never cause harm, but rather that there is usually no foreseeable harm attached to a decision. Specific examples of this type of behaviour might be attendance at the funeral of a client's father or accepting a gift. If a therapist is making a conscientious effort to anticipate potential harm, the risk to the client is unforeseeable. Given that the risk of harm in this category is unlikely, there are no legal or policy prohibitions discouraging this group of behaviours. This could change. If we begin to accumulate evidence of more serious harm from dual relationships of this type, they could be moved to a higher risk category. At present, the "Unlikely Risk" category best allows for and permits individual discretion. The Dual Relationship Scale can assist us in assessing the potential harm associated with a given type of behaviour; however, the scale is a conceptual tool. For help with specific situations and events encountered in clinical practice we must turn to the checklist.
CHECKLIST
Dual Relationship Decision-Making
• Does this situation pose a dual relationship?
What roles would I be merging?
•
• What laws, policies, guidelines or values apply to me in this type of situation?
• What unofficial policies, beliefs, or values need to be considered?
• Where would I rate the potential for harm using the dual relationship scale?
What are the risks to the client?
•
• What are the risks for me, the therapist?
What are the benefits for the client?
•
• What are the benefits for me, the therapist?
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