Dual Relationships And Psychotherapy

"The opinions expressed in this publication go directly to the challenges we will collectively face as we enter the 21st century.."
-- from the Foreword by Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, JD, ABPP, Past President, American Psychological Association

"This volume, through a series of diverse approaches and considerations, has dispelled for all time the monolithic notion that dual relationships are always harmful and should be avoided...remarkable and refreshing."
-- Nicholas A. Cummings, PhD, ScD, Former President., American Psychological Association

This book, the first of its kind, covers the clinical, ethical and legal aspects of non-sexual dual relationships. It provides detailed guidelines on how to navigate the complexities of intended and unintended crossings of the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship. Contributors representing various therapeutic approaches and work settings challenge the prevailing interpretations of ethical standards as presented by the American Psychological and the American Counseling Associations' Code of Ethics. Through case examples, they demonstrate how non-sexual dual relationships may result in increased trust, familiarity, and therapeutic effectiveness.

Discussions include concerns of rural, military, church, hearing impaired and other small communities; behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and feminist views on DR; and more. This is a book for all practicing therapists.

Appendices contain guidelines to nonsexual dual relationships in psychotherapy.

"The opinions expressed in this publication go directly to the challenges we will collectively face as we enter the 21st century.."
-- from the Foreword by Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, JD, ABPP, Past President, American Psychological Association

"This volume, through a series of diverse approaches and considerations, has dispelled for all time the monolithic notion that dual relationships are always harmful and should be avoided...remarkable and refreshing."
-- Nicholas A. Cummings, PhD, ScD, Former President., American Psychological Association

This book, the first of its kind, covers the clinical, ethical and legal aspects of non-sexual dual relationships. It provides detailed guidelines on how to navigate the complexities of intended and unintended crossings of the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship. Contributors representing various therapeutic approaches and work settings challenge the prevailing interpretations of ethical standards as presented by the American Psychological and the American Counseling Associations' Code of Ethics. Through case examples, they demonstrate how non-sexual dual relationships may result in increased trust, familiarity, and therapeutic effectiveness.

Discussions include concerns of rural, military, church, hearing impaired and other small communities; behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and feminist views on DR; and more. This is a book for all practicing therapists.

Appendices contain guidelines to nonsexual dual relationships in psychotherapy.

Arnold A. Lazarus, PhD, ABPP, is a Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Psychology and holds the rank of Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University. Previously, he served on the faculties of Stanford University, Temple University Medical School, and Yale University, where he was director of clinical training. A former president of several professional associations and societies, he has received many honors and awards for his contributions to clinical theory and therapy. These include the Distinguished Service Award from the American Board of Professional Psychology, the prestigious Cummings PSYCHE Award, and two Lifetime Achievement Awards (California Psychological Association and the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy). With 18 books and more than 250 professional and scientific articles to his credit, Dr. Lazarus is widely recognized as an international authority on effective and efficient psychotherapy.

His interest in examining the impact of licensing boards and ethics committees was spawned circa 1993 when two of his colleagues were severely censured by state licensing boards for transcending minor boundaries.

Ofer Zur, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, forensic consultant, and a pioneer of the managed-care-free private practice movement. In his nationwide workshops he has taught about ethics, private practice, burnout, and consulting to thousands of psychotherapists. He also presented the first course ever on dual relationships and how they can increase clinical effectiveness. For many years he taught courses on ethics, research, psychology of gender, and psychology of war at graduate schools, such as the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP, Alameda, CA) and the California School of Integral Studies (CSIS, San Francisco, CA), where he also served as the associate program director. He has written dozens of articles in professional journals on topics, such as dual relationships, effective therapy, private practice development, therapists' families, burnout, victims, gender roles, and the psychology of peace and war. His 1999 article "The Managed Care Free Private Practice Kit" was given the Best Feature Article Award by the Division of Independent Practice (42) of APA.