Ética de las relaciones duales en psicoterapia

Abstract

The ethics of dual relationships in psychotherapy. A dual relationship in psychotherapy occurs when the therapist is in another, significantly different relationship with one of his/her patients that could be social (not sexual or sexual), professional, financial, etc. The aim of this study is to examine if a group of 200 psychology students in the last course of the career, identify as unethical six scenarios proposed in a questionnaire designed by the authors that involve the establishment of some type social dual relationship (of friendship, couple or sexual), with former or current clients/patients. Difficulties were observed in the identification as unethical of some scenarios proposed in the questionnaire, mainly those that involve relationships of friendship with former clients/patients. The previous knowledge of the Spanish psychologist Deontological Code did not provide enough guidance to the participants in the identification and resolution of the ethical dilemmas derived from the establishment of dual relationships.