When Does a Professional Relationship with a Psychologist Begin? An Empirical Investigation

Research on multiple relationships by practicing psychologists has typically presumed the presence of a professional relationship and focused on the ethicality of subsequent, nonprofessional relationships. Instead, this study focused on the question of what, exactly, constitutes the professional rel...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inEthics & behavior Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 208 - 217
Main Authors Smith, Julie Ann, Pomerantz, Andrew M., Pettibone, Jonathan C., Segrist, Daniel J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Philadelphia Taylor & Francis Group 01.05.2012
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
ethics
multiple relationships
Multiple roles
Perceptions
Professional ethics
Professional relationships
Psychologists
psychotherapy
Studies
Therapist patient relationships
Therapist-Client relationships
Undergraduate students
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Research on multiple relationships by practicing psychologists has typically presumed the presence of a professional relationship and focused on the ethicality of subsequent, nonprofessional relationships. Instead, this study focused on the question of what, exactly, constitutes the professional relationship in the first place. Practicing psychologists and undergraduates responded to vignettes portraying various early stages of interaction between a therapist and a prospective client. Participants' responses indicated that determinations of professional relationship establishment, and the ethicality of subsequent nonprofessional relationships, depended upon the degree of engagement. Some differences emerged between perceptions by professionals and nonprofessionals. Ethical and professional implications are discussed.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:1050-8422
1532-7019
DOI:10.1080/10508422.2012.664450