Final 1.docx - Running head ETHICAL BOUNDARIES 1 Counselor...

Running head: ETHICAL BOUNDARIES
1
Counselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices
Ilsa Garcia
Dr. Lawless
Grand Canyon University
October 2, 2018

Ethical Boundaries 2
Boundary issues and Dual Relationships
There is a number of stipulated ethical standards which counselors are supposed too adhere
to in their line of work. Any occurrence of acting contrary to the laid down code of conduct is
considered to be a violation of the ethical requirements of the practice thus subjecting the
therapist to some form of punishment according to the magnitude of breach of conduct.
A dual
relationship is defined as multiple relationships that occur when a counselor plays two or more
professional or non-professional roles in a client’s life. An example would be a friend as well as a
counselor, which is non-professional, and instructor and therapist would be considered professional
role.
For a therapist to have committed an unethical practice, it should be clearly demonstrated that
they did engage in multiple relationships with their client at the extent that they were unable to
carry out their duties effectively. The relationship between the therapist and the client should be
one that is aimed at aiding the client by counseling them within the set professional standards.
Any form of relationship between the two parties which may cloud the performance of the
therapist or which places the client at risk of harm therefore signifies a scenario where the
therapist has crossed his professional boundaries thus translating to violation of the ACA code of
ethic required of counseling professions.
The criteria for establishing whether one indeed crossed their boundaries by engaging in
multiple relationships with clients involve proper assessments as to why the individual decided
to engage in such a relationship. It is understood that there are quite a number of reasons, which
may force the therapist to establish multiple relationships with clients. For instance, a client may
approach a counselor with the objective of seeking advice on how to manage his business. This
may lead to them establishing routine communication between them in order to determine the

Ethical Boundaries 3
progress of the business. As long as the therapist advises the client in good faith, then they’re
deemed to be operating within restricted ethical requirements of the counseling profession.
However, the therapist may be perceived to have committed a breach of the code of conduct
when with prior knowledge, advises the client to undertake a certain decision, which the
counselor thinks, will harm the business. “Counselors are prohibited from engaging in a personal
virtual relationship with individuals with whom they have a current counseling relationship.”
(ACA, 2016, A.5.e)
Likewise, in the case of a therapist involves himself in multiple relationships with the client
with the aim of financially gaining from the relationship, then he is deemed to have violated the
ethical demands of his profession (Herlihy & Corey, 2014). Another form of ethical standards