The Therapeutic Couple: Non-Working Relationships

-Going to Lunch With a Client

All psychotherapist’s codes of ethics contaion clauses excluding non-working relationships in the therapeutic couple. The relationship between the client and the psychotherapist is extraordinary. They are different from anything one encounters in ordinary life. This relationship is not symmetrical: it’s wholly focused on the client, which may cause him or her to want to spend more time together. However, this should not be allowed, so in this situation, it’s necessary to refuse the client but talk to him or her about the reasons for refusal. It’s crucial to indicate the business framework of the relationship because it’s not known what the consequences of informal meetings may be. This position is the same cocerning both genders and, in any case, governed by ethical rules.

-Attending Group Functions Outside the Therapy

The main ethical issue here is that informal settings foster non-working relationships and are ethically unacceptable. At the same time, meetings with group members can help trace client’s behavioral patterns in the out-of-office settings. The approach to behavior with participants could be adapted to their needs. At the same time, anything doing more than that will affect the success of therapy. A too-informal relationship cannot be restored to its former state, so such meetings are undesirable. Gender is irrelevant because the point of timeliness of the therapeutic process and the steady relationship.

-Bartering for Therapy Services

The goal of a good therapist is to improve the client’s well-being, so accepting an offer is not unethical. Bartering will promote well-being and won’t destroy the connection with the therapist. It’s possible to offer installment payments or to negotiate a later settlement while setting an exact deadline. Meetings without charge are ethical, but they must be regulated, negotiated and still prepurposed in future compensation.

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