Ethical Decision Making

Running head: ETHICAL DECISION MAKING Ethical Decision-Making Trendelle Vaughn University of Phoenix January 17, 2010 Ethical Decision-Making Introduction Dual or multiple relationships between a therapist and his or her client has been the subject of much controversy over the past two and half to three decades. A dual relationship may exist when the therapist takes on another role outside of his or her therapist duties. This second relationship could consist of a social, financial, or personal one that occurs at the same time as therapeutic sessions are taking place. Dual relationships between client and therapist are to be avoided at all costs; a dual relationship can be problematic for both the client and the therapist. This paper will identify what a dual relationship consists of, what the ethical dilemma of a dual relationship is, and apply each step of the first 14 steps of the ethical decision making process to a dual relationship by using a real life situation that a dual relationship came into question. Definition Dr. Ofer Zur (2010) defined dual relationship as, “Any situation where multiple roles exist between therapist and client.” A dual relationship could consist of one in which the client is a family member, friend, student, or colleague of the therapist. Dual relationships could also be as simple as the therapist inviting his or her client out for munches, excepting invitations to parties, lending financial support to a client, or a relationship of a sexual nature. Dr. Janet Sonne stated, the 2002 American Psychological Association presented research that implied non-sexual dual relationships are sometimes unavoidable and in many cases are not considered unethical (2005, para. 4). However, a dual relationship between the client and therapist of a sexual nature is considered unethical and illegal and should be avoided at all costs. While working for a not for profit agency as a youth advisor, a colleague entered a

References: Pope, K.S. & Vasquez M.J.T. (2007). Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling. San Francisco. CA: Josey Bass. Sonne, J. (2005). Nonsexual Multiple Relationships: A Practical Decision- Making Model for Clinicians. Retrieved January 15, 2010 from http://kspope.com/site/multiple-relationships.php#copy. Zur, O. (2010). Dual Relationships, Multiple Relationships & Boundaries In Psychotherapy, Counseling & Mental Health. Retrieved January 15, 2009 from http://www.zurinstitute.com/dualrelationships.html.