Strategies for Navigating the Ethics of Dual Relationships and Termination

Course overview

In an age when evidence-based treatments are prioritized in the delivery of behavioral healthcare, it can be easy to downplay the impact of the therapeutic relationship on treatment outcomes. This course will teach you about approaches you can use to establish and maintain healthy boundaries in your clinical work and avoid problematic, unethical dual relationships. Researchers have securely established that the quality of the therapeutic relationship rivals in importance the specific interventions used as a primary means of change (Tishby & Wiseman, 2018). Inappropriate dual relationships are among the leading causes of complaints and licensing board disciplinary action against professionals (Wilkinson et al., 2019). Equally important to healthy therapeutic relationships is knowing when and how to end those relationships in a way that maximizes the clients well-being. Poorly handled termination can turn productive, high-quality treatment into a negative experience for the client and provider. The goal of this course is to provide alcohol and drug counseling, marriage and family therapy, counseling, psychology, nursing, and social work professionals in health and human services settings with strategies to effectively manage dual relationships and termination. Keep in mind, this course is designed to provide you with general guidance about ethical issues related to termination and dual relationships. Because of copyright issues, and because it would be beyond the scope of the course, the specific guidance from each professional code of ethics cannot be presented. You should always check with your specific code of ethics before deciding how to proceed.