Dual Relationship as a Serious Issue - Essay Example

It will be quite important for all therapists to consult widely about the exact dynamics of dual relationships to avoid finding themselves in a precarious situation.
Dual relationships can undoubtedly become an ethically troubling incident in a wide range of settings, which include both clinical and non-clinical in multifaceted ways. The first major ethical concern is the fact that it can lead to a boundary violation. Boundaries are often set in relationships to maintain professionalism. However, the dual relationship is believed to create boundary issues due to unclear and ambiguous boundaries.

The more the therapist engages in dual relationships with the client the issue of role conflict arises making dual relations a major ethical issue. The same case also applies to the client as he/she also becomes confused about which of the two or more predefined roles should take precedence. There is also an ethical concern of impaired professional judgment during care delivery as the therapist may overlook his professional counseling role (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2012). The final ethical issue associated with dual relationships involves power exploitation. It is believed that the party holding an influential position can sue the dynamics of power arising from the dual relationship to exploit or harm the susceptible party. Read More