In Therapy, what is a Conflict of Interest? - TheHealthBoard

Another way that conflict of interest in therapy may occur is when a therapist treats more than one client of the same family. It is very ... RelatedTopics ConflictOfInterest ConflictOfInterestPolicies FinancialConflictOfInterest DirectorConflictOfInterest AttorneysConflictOfInterest GovernmentConflictOfInterest ConflictOfInterestDisclosureStatement JointheCommunity Subscribetoournewsletterandlearnsomethingneweveryday. WikibuyReview:AFreeToolThatSavesYouTimeandMoney Easy,NoEssayCollegeScholarships 15CreativeWaystoSaveMoneyThatActuallyWork TriciaChristensen TriciaChristensen Alargechurchmayallowfornoconflictofinterestifboththetherapistandpatientaremembersofthecongregation,butonlyifitdoesnotmakethepatientuncomfortable. Thereareanumberofexamplesofwhatconstitutesaconflictofinterestintherapy.Justasinmedicine,treatingcertainpatientsmaynotbeinthebestinterestofthepatientorthetherapist.Atherapist,forinstance,wouldhaveadirectconflictintryingtocounselhisorherownfamilymembers,justasadoctorwouldbeunlikelytotreattheillnessesofhisorherownimmediatefamily(beyondofferingsomebasiccareasneeded).Thepremiseofmosttherapyisthatatherapististobringobjectivitytosessions,andheorshecannotbringthesamelevelofdistancetothosepeoplewhoheorsheknowsverywell. Theseexamplesarecallednon-sexualdualrelationships,andtheyarenotillegal,thoughtheymaynotalwaysbeadvised.Additionalnon-sexualdualrelationships,whereaconflictofinterestmightoccurincludethefollowing: Atherapistandclienthaveafriendshipoutsideoftherapy,wherethetherapistandclienthaveabusinessrelationship. Theclientandtherapistlivetogetherinverysmallcommunitiesorbelongtothesamecommunalorganizations. Thetherapistworksnotonlyasatherapistforaperson,butalsomayevaluatetheminsomeway. Thislastisthecaseininstitutionsandinprisons,whentherapistsmayalsomakejudgmentsabouttheclient’sfuture,andsucharelationshipcouldalsoexistinorganizationsthatemployacounselorfortheiremployeestovisit. Atherapistthatworksforacompanymayhaveaconflictofinterestifthecompanyisplacingthetherapistinapositionwheretheywantconfidentialinformation. Notalloutsiderelationshipswithatherapistwillposeasignificantconflictofinterestintherapy.Forinstance,ifsomeoneattendsalargechurchthathertherapistalsohappenstoattend,thismayberelativelyharmless,thoughitcanpotentiallyaffectthepatient'sprivacy,ormakeherfeelslightlyuncomfortableifshemeetshertherapistinasocialsetting.Thetherapistisstillboundbyconfidentiality,andcannotdisclosethatthepersonishisclient,whichmaymakeforafewawkwardmoments.Ifapatientdoessharethistypeofdualrelationshipwithatherapist,discussingintherapyhowmeetingsinthe“outsideworld”shouldbehandledmakesgoodsense. Havingasexualrelationshipwithaclientisahugeconflictofinterest. Ontheotherhand,notallclientswanttoseetheirtherapistintheoutsideworld,andreallypreferanonymityandprivacywhenattendingtherapy.Theymayfeelmoreconflictedaboutdiscussingtheirproblemswithsomeonetheyknoworarelikelytomeetregularly.Whendualrelationshipsexist,it’simportanttofindoutiftheyhavethepotentialtocreateadiscomfortintherapy,foreitherthetherapistorclient,andtodecideiftheclientwouldbebestservedwithanothertherapist. Atherapisttreatingacouplemayhaveaconflictofinterestwhenitcomestoeachpartner'sconfidentiality. Anotherwaythatconflictofinterestintherapymayoccuriswhenatherapisttreatsmorethanoneclientofthesamefamily.Itisveryimportant,especiallyincouplesorfamilycounseling,toclearlydefinethedegreeofconfidentialityeachpersonbeingcounseledwillhave.Manytimes,therapistswhoworkwithmorethanonefamilymemberwillverydirectlystatethatanythingsaidbyclientsisnotconfidentialtorelatedclients.Ofcourse,thismayaffectthedegreeofhonestypeopleinfamilyorcouplestherapywillexhibit.Ifitseemsclearthatonepersonisstrugglingwithissuesorneedsgreaterconfidentiality,thetherapistmayrecommendthatpersonseekcounselingwithaprivatetherapisttoo. Aconflictofinterestmightbenefitonepartner,butnotboth. Similarly,therapistsmayfeelitisaconflicttotreatmorethanoneclientofthesamefamilyinprivatesettings.Sinceeachclientwouldhavetotalconfidentiality,butmightbespeculatingabouttheirfamilymembers,itmaybehardtopreservethisprivacy.Thisisespeciallythecasewhenthetherapisthasinformationabouteachrelatedclientfromotherfamilymembers.Itisofteninthebestinterestoftheclientsiftheyeachhavetheirowntherapist. Professionaltherapyshouldneverincludesexualrelationsbetweentherapistandclient.Thisisundoubtedlyaconflictofinterestintherapy.Addingasexualcomponenttotherelationshipcanprovetremendouslydamagingtoaclient,sincethatpersonisincrediblyvulnerableinthetherapeuticsetting. TriciaChristensen TriciahasaLiteraturedegreefromSonomaStateUniversityandhasbeenafrequentTheHealthBoard contributorformanyyears.Sheisespeciallypassionateaboutreadingandwriting,althoughherotherinterestsinclude medicine,art,film,history,politics,ethics,andreligion.TricialivesinNorthernCaliforniaandiscurrently workingonherfirstnovel. TriciaChristensen TriciahasaLiteraturedegreefromSonomaStateUniversityandhasbeenafrequentTheHealthBoard contributorformanyyears.Sheisespeciallypassionateaboutreadingandwriting,althoughherotherinterestsinclude medicine,art,film,history,politics,ethics,andreligion.TricialivesinNorthernCaliforniaandiscurrently workingonherfirstnovel. YoumightalsoLike Recommended ReadersAlsoLove 26IncrediblyWealthyHollywoodStars CanYouGuessWhichTeamTheseAthletesPlayedFor? AnyAmericanShouldPassThisUSHistoryQuiz DoYouRecognizeTheStarsWhoWoreTheseIconicOutfits? TheMostBeautifulWomenForecastingtheWeather AmazingOpticalIllusionsThatWillPlayTricksonYourMind 40WeddingPictureFailsYouDon'tWanttoMiss 17InterestingMapsThatWillChangeYourWorldview RelatedArticles WhatisTherapist-ClientPrivilege? WhatisFamilyCounseling? WhatisaConflictofInterest? DiscussionComments GirlInASwirl January13,2021 Isthereaconflictofinterestinthissituation?Iamseekingtrauma-recoverypsychologysessions.Apsychologistcameforward;Irecognisedthenameof.Ihavemetheracoupleoftimessociallyinthecourseofmylastrelationship(Christmas/NewYearcelebrations).Theyareinthesameextendedfamily(hersisterismarriedtoex'scousin)asmyexwhoabused/rapedme(partialsubjectoftheupcomingtherapy).Ihaven'tdecidedifIamgoingtoseekprosecutionfortherape-wasgoingtodiscussduringsessions.Idon'tthinkthepsychologistandexareparticularlyclose-butiamnottotallysure.Whatdoyouthink? anon995959 June16,2016 Isthereaconflictofinterestifmychild'stherapistworksformyex-wife'stherapist(Sheistheownerofthefacility)? anon986190 January23,2015 IsthereaconflictofinterestpresentinasituationwhereIhavereceivedprolongedcounselingfromatherapistwhohasbeenemployedtoofferReflectivepracticesessionswiththecharitythatIworkforandIhavebeenadvisedthatIamrequiredtoattendthesegroupsessions.IfeeluncomfortablewiththissituationbutwastoldthatIamrequiredtoattend. anon954620 yesterday Whataboutacourt-appointedpsychologistinachildcustodydisputewhoisendorsedonlinebyoneoftheparty'sattorneys?Thepsychologistalsoendorsedtheattorney.Thepsychologist'sreportwasgrosslyinfavoroftheclientwho'sattorneygavetheendorsement.Wasthereaconflictofinterest? anon347091 yesterday Whataboutatherapistwhodropsaclientafterfoursessions,andtheclientisn'tacloseknitcommunitymemberofafamilymemberoranythingstatedinthisarticleandisstatingconflictofinterest? anon218196 September28,2011 @anon157181:Idonotthinkyoushouldeverdateapreviousclient.IthinkIcanseeyourperspectivethough:Youandthepreviousclienthaveastrongandmeaningfulconnection,andwhoknowswhatthefuturemayhold,sowhynotatleastgiveitachance?Inasuccessfulcounselingrelationship,thereisoftenastrongconnectionmade.Manytimes,aclientcomesintotherelationshipvulnerable.Heorshelookstothetherapisttobeastablerelationshiptorelyon,duringwhichheorshecanreceiveencouragementandfeelsupported.Personally,Ithinkitishighlyimportantfortheclienttoexperiencehavingahealthyrelationship.Maybeheorshehasneverhadone,ever!Andifthetherapistandclientareoftheoppositegenders,itisallthemoreimportanttohaveahealthyrelationshipthatissolelyplatonic,becausetheclientneedstoknowthatnon-sexualrelationshipsarepossibleandcanbehealthy.Eitherway,youaretheexampleofthisrelationship,whichwillhelpthemincountlessfuturerelationships.Feelingsandemotionsareverystrongduringtherapysessions,andtheclientcaneasilyattributestrongandnon-platonicfeelingsfortheirtherapistinbeingsocaredaboutandlistenedto(clinicianscanaswell,becausetheyfeelsorespected,appreciatedandhelpful).Ashisorhertherapistinthepast,itwasimportantbackthenforyoutomaintainthepositiverelationshipandsupportiveroleasthetherapistandtherapistalone.Ithinkitisimportantfortheclienttocontinuetohavethememoryandexperienceofasupportivetherapistthatwaspurelyasupporttothem.Tostartdatingthepreviousclientwouldrobhimorherofthis(potentiallyone-in-a-lifetime)positiverelationshipexperiencethatexistedforthesolepurposeofhelpingtheclient.Theideaofdatingthepreviousclientmayseemlikeyoucouldcontinuetohelptheclientandbethatpositiverelationship,butwouldinfactchangeandcorrupttheentirepreviousrelationshiptoadifferentconceptcompletely.Afoundationbuiltontherelationshipofaclientandtherapistdynamicdoesnotbodewellforalongandfulfillingrelationship.Oneperson'srolewastoonlyneedhelp,whiletheotherperson'srolewastoonlygivehelp.Eventhoughthedynamicchangedwithtime,anyresultingdatingrelationshipcannotbehealthyorbeneficialforeitherparty.Ihopethishelpsandthatyoudonotconsidergoingthroughwithit. anon157181 March1,2011 Whataboutifyourclientnolongerisaclientinyourinstitutionandinitiatescontactbeyondthat?Suchasgoingforacoffee?Also,whatifyourformerclientisflirtingwithyouandyouflirtback? latte31 February11,2011 Icecream17-Iknowthatmanymysteryshoppingcompanieswillalsoofferaconflictofinterestdisclosurestatementfortheshopperoneveryshop.Thisstatesthatiftheshopperhasanyrelationshiporevenknowssomeonethatworksatthelocationbeingshopped,theywillnotbeallowedtoconductthemysteryshop. Withholdingyouridentityiseverythinginmysteryshopping.Asamatteroffactifyouarespottedasamysteryshopperbyanyoneinthecompany,youwillnotbepaidbecauseitwillinvalidatethestudyandthemysteryshoppingcompanyhastosendanothershopper. icecream17 February8,2011 Ithinkthatatherapistshouldnevertreatafriendintherapybecausebytheverynatureoftherelationshipthetherapistcannotbeobjective.Ialsothinkthatatherapistcanlosehislicenseoverthat. Conflictofinterestpoliciesaredesignedtoprotecttheclientsfrommalpractice.Mostinstitutionshaveazeronoconflictofinterestpolicyinordertomaintainthenecessarylevelsofprofessionalismintheindustry. Postyourcomments Pleaseenterthefollowingcode: Login: Forgotpassword? Register: By:GraçaVictoria Alargechurchmayallowfornoconflictofinterestifboththetherapistandpatientaremembersofthecongregation,butonlyifitdoesnotmakethepatientuncomfortable. By:ChristianDelbert Atherapistthatworksforacompanymayhaveaconflictofinterestifthecompanyisplacingthetherapistinapositionwheretheywantconfidentialinformation. By:patrisyu Havingasexualrelationshipwithaclientisahugeconflictofinterest. By:SydaProductions Atherapisttreatingacouplemayhaveaconflictofinterestwhenitcomestoeachpartner'sconfidentiality. By:bonninturina Aconflictofinterestmightbenefitonepartner,butnotboth.