`Dual Relationships` in couseling

Dual Relationships

Gabriel L (2005 ) defines dual relationships as a A one to one contracted relationship between an individual in the role of `client and one in the role of `therapist ' which then overlaps into a non therapy context or role . The overlapping contact occurs while there is a current therapy relationship , or before the therapy relationship is formed , or beyond its cessation . The non-therapy contact is friendship social , sexual , collegial , financial or business oriented (1

A dual relationship refers to a HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?Relationships " relationships

br in which a HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?health health HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?service service provider is concurrently participating in two or more HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?role " role categories with a HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?patient " patient such dual relationships may be HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?benign " benign (as when both are HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?members members of the HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?same " same HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?social " social HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?group " group ) or exploitive (a HYPERLINK "http /cancerweb .ncl .ac .uk /cgi-bin /omd ?sexual " sexual relationship . Dual relationships occur when counselors have another significantly different , relationship with one of their clients students , or supervisees

A dual relationship in psychotherapy occurs when the therapist engages in another , significantly different relationship with the patient . The two relationships may be concurrent or sequential . For both sexual and nonsexual dual relationships , men are typically the perpetrators and women are typically the victims . Therapy by itself is complex and difficult to perform without the introduction of other factors . Thus , at the outset a professional must address whether he or she even needs to enter into a dual relationship . Simply put , unnecessary dual relationships can be fraught with unnecessary risk . As a rule , it is likely to be in the best interests of the professional , regardless of location , to avoid dual relationships if at all possible

Professionals know that exploitation of patients is unethical and incase the issue of the proposition the dual relationship arises , they (professional ) should know what to do to prevent future problems . The relationship might be exploitive to the patient , therefore it is unacceptable . And well , if exploitation cannot be or if it can be avoided , then the professional should immediately do it . It is unethical to exploit patients , because the relationship maybe beneficial to the Counselor . This is a dilemma often faced by those who work in small communities . Treating your minister 's wife in a small town would be a clear example of a dual relationship that benefited the client since , if you were the only therapist in this town , to avoid the dual relationship would prevent an individual in distress from getting service

However , not all dual relationships are as easy to assess as...