Essay On Dual Relationships

When it comes to relationships, having multiple relationships with a client can be disadvantage to client’s welfare and the quality of help provided by the therapist. There are various reasons to how this can happen when there is already an existing relationship in therapy between the client and the therapist. Dual relationships might occur when the therapist and the client know a mutual person which can cause both to know of each other. In some cases after the therapy ends the client and the therapist could become friends and may have an intimate relationship. These relationships can develop for various reasons while the client is still in therapy or they are already done. According to the AAMFT code of ethics; “Marriage and family therapist are aware of their influential positon with respect to clients, and they avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of such person” (AAMFT, Code of Ethics 1.3). In agreement this with law, it is understandable that being in multiple relationship with the client can impact the
This study done by Edwards, “A discussion of the detrimental as well as the beneficial potential of such a relationship, and client and therapist perspectives of being in dual relationships, with the exception of nonsexual dual relationships” (Edwards, 2007). They were determine to see if having a relationship outside of therapy context will result in the improvement in client objective. Even though, it is clearly stated in the AMMFT to avoid conditions that could impair professional judgments, or the increase of exploitation. The overlapping contact between the therapist and the client can happen at any point; while in therapy, or before the therapy, or even beyond the termination. Having these relationships can be very beneficial for a client satisfaction, as long as it is been initiated from the client rather than the