Going to a Lunch with a Client
All psychotherapists’ codes of ethics contain clauses excluding non-working relationships in the therapeutic couple. The relationship between the client and the psychotherapist is extraordinary. They are different from anything one encounters in ordinary life. This relationship is not symmetrical: it is wholly focused on the client, which may cause him to want to spend more time together. However, this should not be allowed, so in this situation, it is necessary to refuse the client but talk to him about the reasons for refusal. It is crucial to indicate the business framework of the relationship because it is not known what the consequences of informal meetings may be. This position is the same concerning both genders and, in any case, governed by ethical rules (Corey & Corey, 2020). Mixing personal and professional disruption of the therapeutic process and therapy ceases to be effective and becomes more complicated.
Attending Group Functions Outside the Therapy
Derek should refuse to attend such events outside of working hours. The main ethical issue here is that informal settings foster non-working relationships and are ethically unacceptable (Corey & Corey, 2020). At the same time, however, meetings with group members can help trace clients’ behavioral patterns in the out-of-office setting. Thus, the approach to behavior with participants could be adapted to their needs. At the same time, Derek’s conduct must be strictly controlled; if he allows too much, it will negatively affect the success of therapy. A too-informal relationship cannot be restored to its former state, so such meetings are undesirable. Gender is irrelevant because the point is the timeliness of the therapeutic process and the steady relationship.
Bartering for Therapy Services
The goal of a good therapist is to improve the client’s well-being, so accepting an offer is not unethical. Bartering will promote Wayne’s emotional well-being and will not destroy the connection with the therapist. It is possible to offer installment payments or to negotiate a later settlement while setting an exact deadline. Meetings without charge are ethical, but they must be regulated, negotiated, and still presuppose future compensation. This solution has no territorial features, although it may seem that such a practice is more acceptable in rural areas. At the same time, the specifics of the service must be negotiated in advance to avoid problems for both client and therapist. Moreover, a possible refusal must be justified not to worsen Wayne’s condition.
Reference
Barner, C. (2012). Social media and communication. Sage.
Brownlie, D. (2012). Andragogy. Web.
Cummings, J. N., Butler, B., & Kraut, R. (2014). The quality of online social relationships. Communications of the ACM, 45(7), 103–108.
Corey, M. S., & Corey, G. (2020). Becoming a helper. Cengage Learning.