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Professional Issues and Ethics: Ethical Dilemma Post 3

Y‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‍ou will be presented with a new clinical dilemma, based on the readings and discussions to reflect your ethical decision. Ethical Dilemma 3 Case B: Dr. Pedestal Rita James sought psychotherapy with Hy Pedestal, Ph.D., following a breakup with the man she had been dating for 2 months. She described a series of relationships with three different men in the past year. All followed the same pattern: casual social contacts leading to sexual intimacies by the second date and a breakup within a few weeks. Each time, Rita said she "felt like ending my life." She began her second therapy session with Dr. Pedestal by telling him how helpful the‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‍ first session had been and what an exceptional therapist he was. She then got out of her chair and sat on the floor by his feet, looking up at him adoringly. When Pedestal asked what she was doing, Rita replied, "I feel more comfortable like this." What are some Ethical Dilemmas, and how would you respond as a therapist? References:

 1. Koocher, G.P., and Keith-Spiegel, P. (2016). Ethics in Psychology and the Mental Health Professions: Standards and Cases. (4th Edition). New York: Oxford 2. ? Roberts, J. (2005). Transparency and self-disclosure in family therapy. Family Process, 44, 45-63. ** Please see attached reading in pdf forma‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‍t

Expert Solution

Ethical Dr. Pedestal, in this case, is faced with an ethical dilemma regarding boundary crossings. According to Koocher and Keith-Spiegel (2016), therapists who engage in "non-traditional or non-therapeutic activities" with clients run the risk of creating a "conflicted dual relationship" or "unethical exploitation" of them. In this instance, the client is unsuitably prostrating herself at Pedestal's feet and expressing her admiration for him, crossing a physical line. This behavior indicates a possible boundary breach since it may be motivated by feelings towards the therapist that are not helpful. These feelings may result in a conflict of interest, an abuse of the power dynamic, and a disdain for the requirement of client autonomy (Chenneville & Gabbidon, 2020). 

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