Dual Relationships in Counselling & Psychotherapy

The issue of dual relationships with clients, trainees and supervisees affects most counsellors or psychotherapists at some point in their careers. Many practitioners are unclear about such boundary issues and how, when and if it is appropriate to enter into a dual relationship, whether as a friend, business partner or sexual partner. These relationships are seldom neutral and can have a powerful beneficial or detrimental impact on the person seeking help. Dual Relationships in Counselling and Psychotherapy examines the circumstances in which such relationships arise and provides guidelines on how to ethically manage, avoid or even to develop dual relationships. It also clearly defines the limits beyond which practitioners must not go. Dual Relationships in Counselling and Psychotherapy explores; the dangers of sexual relationships; non-sexual relationships (e.g. requests for friendship, gift-giving, chance meetings outside the therapy room), and; dual relationships which inevitably occur in small communities and minority groups. Exploring a subject which is often avoided and, for some, even taboo, Dual Relationships in Counselling and Psychotherapy is an invaluable source of advice for trainees and practitioners alike.