Provide A Brief Case Vignette From Your Area Of Specializati

Provide A Brief Case Vignette From Your Area Of Specialization That De

Provide a brief case vignette from your area of specialization that describes a dual relationship. The relationship could be either harmful or beneficial. Include the age of the student or client and the setting in which you are working. Describe the steps you will take to ensure that the relationships you develop with your students or clients and the decisions you make about boundaries in these relationships will be ethical, legal, and beneficial. Support your ideas with reference to the professional literature and the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics and/or the 2010 ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors.

Paper For Above instruction

In the realm of mental health counseling, especially within psychiatric outpatient settings, the complexity of dual relationships presents ongoing ethical challenges. An illustrative case involves an 18-year-old client receiving outpatient psychiatric services and the counselor’s accidental involvement in a social media connection with the client. While this connection did not initially threaten the therapeutic relationship, it posed potential risks related to boundary violations, confidentiality, and the perception of exploitation or favoritism. Addressing these concerns is essential to uphold the ethical standards outlined by professional guidelines such as the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

Case Vignette

In a psychiatric outpatient hospital, a licensed mental health counselor was providing services to an 18-year-old client recently discharged from inpatient care. The client sought outpatient therapy to address depression and anxiety. Over several sessions, the counselor facilitated a trusting therapeutic relationship, working collaboratively on coping strategies and emotional regulation. Unbeknownst to the counselor initially, the client sent a friend request via social media, which the counselor accepted. This action created a dual relationship—personal connection and professional relationship—that covered social boundaries beyond therapeutic context. The client interpreted the social media connection as a sign of care and support, potentially impacting the objectivity of the therapeutic process.

Analysis of the Dual Relationship

Dual relationships occur when a therapist interacts with a client in more than one role, which can be either beneficial or harmful (Pope & Vasquez, 2016). In this case, the social media connection risked boundary crossing, potentially compromising the client’s trust and the counselor’s objectivity. It could also lead to conflicts of interest, exploitation, or harm, should the relationship turn personal or lead to a breach of confidentiality. Recognizing these risks aligns with the principles of the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), which emphasizes avoiding dual relationships that could impair professional judgment or exploit the client (ACA, 2014, A.5.a).

Steps to Maintain Ethical Boundaries

To ensure the relationship remains ethical, legal, and beneficial, the counselor must take specific steps aligned with professional standards. Firstly, the counselor should immediately address the social media connection policies during supervision or team meetings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining clear boundaries (Corey et al., 2018). The counselor should then inform the client about the potential conflicts of dual relationships and suggest discontinuing the social media connection, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality and professional distance (ASCA, 2010). This communication should be respectful, transparent, and supportive, reaffirming the therapeutic alliance while clarifying boundary expectations.

Furthermore, the counselor needs to document the incident and the steps taken to rectify the boundary breach, consistent with record-keeping standards and ethical obligations (Remley & Herlihy, 2018). Ongoing professional development about dual relationships and boundary management is integral to maintaining competence and ethical practice.

It is also vital to evaluate whether the dual relationship is inevitable or potentially harmful. When in doubt, counselors are encouraged to seek consultation with colleagues or ethics boards to navigate ambiguous situations (Welfel, 2016). This proactive approach safeguards client welfare and upholds the integrity of the therapeutic process.

Conclusion

In mental health practice, maintaining clear, professional boundaries is vital, particularly in outpatient psychiatric settings where dual relationships can easily emerge. The case of an 18-year-old client connecting via social media highlights the importance of awareness, intervention, and adherence to ethical codes like those of the ACA and ASCA. By promptly addressing boundary crossings through transparent communication, documentation, and ongoing education, counselors can uphold ethical standards, foster a beneficial therapeutic environment, and protect client welfare.

References

• American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author.
• American School Counselor Association. (2010). Ethical Standards for School Counselors. Alexandria, VA: Author.
• Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2018). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Remley, T. P., & Herlihy, B. (2018). Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling (5th ed.). Pearson.
• Pope, K., & Vasquez, M. J. T. (2016). Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Practice Overview (5th ed.). Wiley.
• Welfel, E. R. (2016). Ethics in Counseling & Psychotherapy (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Knapp, S., & Brown, D. (2019). Double your boundaries: The importance of maintaining ethical boundaries in therapy. Journal of Counseling & Development, 97(3), 273–283.
• Zur, O. (2017). Ethical issues in social media and online counseling. Counseling Today, 59(6), 40–44.
• McLeod, J. (2013). An Introduction to Counselling (5th ed.). Open University Press.
• Knapp, S., & VandeCreek, L. (2012). Ethical Problems in the Practice of Psychology. American Psychological Association.