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Dual Relationships in Counselling & Psychotherapy
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Dual Relationships in Counselling & Psychotherapy
Exploring the Limits

First Edition


August 2003 | 144 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
`This thought- provoking book should be required reading for all trainers, practitioners and supervisors. It examines the complex issues that arise when the clinician enters into a relationship with the client beyond the psychotherapeutic boundaries' - Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal

A recent development in the profession is a consideration of the appropriate use of touch. This is looked at in some detail in this book with useful guidelines of the issues to be considered in deciding whether to touch a client or not.

The issue of dual relationships with clients, trainees and supervisees affects most counsellors or psychotherapists at some point in their careers. Many practitioners are unclear about such boundary issues and how, when and if it is appropriate to enter into a dual relationship, whether as a friend, business partner or sexual partner. These relationships are seldom neutral and can have a powerful beneficial or detrimental impact on the person seeking help.

Dual Relationships in Counselling & Psychotherapy examines the circumstances in which such relationships arise and provides guidelines on how to ethically manage, avoid or even to develop dual relationships. It also clearly defines the limits beyond which practitioners must not go.

The book explores: the dangers of sexual relationships; non-sexual relationships (for example, requests for friendship, gift-giving and chance meetings outside the therapy room); and dual relationships which inevitably occur in small communities and minority groups.

Exploring a subject which is often avoided and, for some, even taboo, Dual Relationships in Counselling & Psychotherapy is an invaluable source of advice for trainees and practitioners alike.

 
Boundary Issues Are Commonplace
Setting the Limits

 
 
The Absolute Limit
Sexual Dual Relationships - The Prevalance and Harmful Effects

 
 
The Significance of Sexual Feelings in the Therapeutic Relationship
 
Non-Sexual Dual Relationships
The Management of Gifts and Barter

 
 
Touch
Finding the Limits

 
 
Social Situations and Friendship
 
Non-Sexual Dual Relationships in Training, Supervision and Research
 
Challenging the Limits
Dual Relationships in Small Communities and Pastoral Relationships

 
 
Learning from the Boundary Riders

`This thought-provoking book should be required reading for all trainers, practitioners and supervisors. It examines the complex issues that arise when the clinician enters into a relationship with the client beyond the psychotherapeutic boundaries' - Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal

Gabrielle Syme

Dr Gabrielle Syme was Chair of British Association for Counselling (BAC) from 1996-1999 and works in private practice as a counsellor, supervisor and trainer. Her major interests are in bereavement and promoting good practice. These are reflected in her four books; Gift of Tears (Routledge, 1992; 2004 (Second Edition) co-authored with Susan Lendrum), Counselling in Independent Practice (Open University Press, 1994); Dual Relationships in Counselling and Psychotherapy: Exploring the Limits (Sage, 2003) and Objectives and Outcomes: Questioning the Practice of Psychotherapy, co-authored with Jenifer Elton Wilson (Open University Press, 2006)... More About Author

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ISBN: 9780761960881
£44.99

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