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=                         Dual_relationship                          =
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                            Introduction
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In the mental health field, a dual relationship is a situation where
multiple roles exist between a therapist, or other mental health
practitioner, and a client.  Dual relationships are also referred to
as multiple relationships, and these two terms are used
interchangeably in the research literature. The American Psychological
Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of
Conduct (also referred to as the APA ethics code) is a resource that
outlines ethical standards and principles to which practitioners are
expected to adhere. Standard 3.05 of the APA ethics code outlines the
definition of multiple relationships. Dual or multiple relationships
occur when:

*a professional and personal relationship take place simultaneously
between the psychologist and the client
* the psychologist has a relationship with a person closely related to
or connected to their client
* the psychologist has intentions to enter into a future relationship
with the client or someone closely related to the client

In addition, the standard provides a description of when to avoid
multiple relationships (e.g., when the relationship causes harm to the
client or impairs the psychologist's competence) and when these
relationships are 'not' considered unethical (e.g., when the
relationship does not exploit the client or impair competence).


                          In other fields
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Several "helping" fields which are not strictly psychological in
nature, but which still involve a therapeutic counseling environment,
also have stringent policies involving dual relationships and the
avoidance of such relationships. For example, the National Association
of Social Workers [NASW], which regulates 132,000 social workers
across the world, names multiple types of dual relationships. This
includes sexual, financial, personal or religious relationships which
could become exploitative due to the differences in power between the
worker and the client. Social workers are advised by the NASW to
communicate with their clients when such a relationship arises or
could arise, and are advised to take steps to avoid dual relationships
wherever possible. The NASW recognizes, however, that dual
relationships can be unavoidable in some types of communities, such as
in rural communities or military installations.


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Original Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_relationship