Multiple Role Relationships -Conflict in the Field

Multiple Role Relationships -Conflict in the Field

In your journal, consider how what you have learned about multiple role relationships could apply to your professional life.

As a future psychologist, I plan to someday open and run a clinic focused on child and family counselling practice. I anticipate encountering scenarios of multiple-role relationships and related conflicts in this field. A multiple-role relationship conflict that I may anticipate in my practice has a client I know from my previous relationships or a reference from such previous relationships seeking therapy services from my clinic. It is common for friends or people one knows or former clients to seek services or refer other clients with mental health services to professionals they know. These scenarios, at all levels, create a scenario of multiple-role relationships.

What would be one multiple-role relationship conflict you can anticipate coming up in your chosen field of work?

Based on existing evidence, multiple-role relationships create conflicts of interest in professional practice. Conflict of interest in the field of psychology can significantly impair the objectivity and effectiveness of professional practice as well as the therapeutic relationship. In a case where a conflict of interest exists, as a therapist, I may find it hard to practice professionally when handling a client with whom I have a personal relationship. Conflict of interest can exist regardless of whether the personal relationship is directly with the client or with someone close to the client. The processes by which a relationship impairs professional objectivity and effusiveness in a therapeutic relationship are psychological in nature (Behnke, 2004). A personal relationship with a client has a significant psychological effect on the nature and direction of the therapeutic relationship. The therapeutic relationship can be affected intentionally or through exploitation and manipulation. In such a case, a multiple-role relationship is more likely to cause personal values to outweigh professionalism and professional guidelines (Knapp et al., 2013).

Is there any way to prepare for this conflict ahead of time?

I will prepare for this conflict ahead of time by first familiarizing myself with the existing guidelines and ethical principles that guide psychotherapy. It is important to understand the boundaries and limits of the practice. This includes when to offer and when not to offer support. Preparations for such a scenario can also include understanding how to communicate with clients with whom I may have personal relationships outside my practice.

What strategies could you develop to avoid this ethical conflict?

There are various strategies that I can develop to avoid ethical conflict arising from a multiple-role relationship. For instance, I can set clear professional boundaries when dealing with people I personally know. Another strategy I can develop to avoid such ethical conflict is to practice based on the ethical principles of psychologists, especially the ethics of fidelity, responsibility, integrity, and respect for the rights and dignity of people (American Psychological Association, 2017). Although being familiar with the ethical codes of practice in psychology does not guarantee ethical practice, it supports decision-making and professional judgment (Barnett, 2019).

Conclusion

In summary, the processes of practice in any field of psychology as a practitioner are majorly relationship-based. Therefore, multiple-role relationships are likely to occur in psychotherapy settings. As a psychologist, prior awareness of the potential scenarios leading to multiple-role relationships in practice settings and related conflicts is important. Such knowledge can help a therapist employ a proactive approach in either practice to avoid the development of such relationships or help manage them. It also helps to avoid any ethical conflicts and liability. Conclusively, the conflicts created by multiple-role scenarios can be avoided by setting clear professional boundaries with the clients and strictly observing guidelines and ethics applicable to psychotherapy from an interdisciplinary perspective.

References

American Psychological Association. (2017). ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS AND CODE OF CONDUCT. In apa.org. APA. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/ethics-code-2017.pdf

Barnett, J. E. (2019). The ethical practice of psychotherapy: Clearly within our reach. Psychotherapy, 56(4), 431. https://doi.org/10.1037/PST0000272

Behnke, S. (2004). Ethics rounds–Multiple relationships and APA’s new Ethics Code: Values and applications. Ethics Rounds, 35(1), 66. https://www.apa.org/monitor/jan04/ethics

Knapp, S., Handelsman, M. M., Gottlieb, M. C., & VandeCreek, L. D. (2013). The dark side of professional ethics. Professional Psychology. Research and Practice, 44(6), 371–377. https://sci-hub.se/10.1037/

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PROMPT: In your journal, consider how what you have learned about multiple role relationships could apply to your professional life.

What would be one multiple-role relationship conflict you can anticipate coming up in your chosen field of work? Is there any way to prepare for this conflict ahead of time? What strategies could you develop to avoid this ethical conflict?

Multiple Role Relationships -Conflict in the Field

****SOME INFO FOR WRITER***
I plan to be a psychologist and open a child/family counseling practice someday, so if you wanted to add a personal perspective you could use that

Resources you can use OR FIND PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES FROM SHAPIRO LIBRARY

Textbook: Ethics in Psychology and the Mental Health Professions: Standards and Cases, Chapters 8 and 9

https://kspope.com/ethics/research4.php
This article explores practicing psychologists’ perspectives on ethics and ethics violations.

https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=875a4e8c-4954-49e6-b296-bf04ec3dde79%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=2013-45032-001&db=pdh

This article discusses the “dark side” of ethics and how it can be more effectively addressed when psychologists base their professional conduct on a blend of both personal and professional ethics.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/03/ethics
This article by the American Psychological Association’s ethics director discusses multiple role relationships and the importance of adhering to professional boundaries.

You can also use the Shapiro Library to find peer-reviewed articles if needed.