In Maryland, how should counselors handle dual relationships with clients?

In Maryland, counselors are expected to limit and manage dual relationships carefully to avoid potential conflicts of interest and ensure that the therapeutic relationship remains ethical and professional. Dual relationships occur when a counselor has a secondary role with a client outside of the counseling context, which can include social, familial, or business relationships.

The ethical guidelines emphasize the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and the integrity of the counseling process. When dual relationships are unavoidable, counselors should take proactive steps to manage them, such as setting clear boundaries, being transparent with clients about the nature of the relationship, and seeking supervision or consultation when needed. This careful management helps to protect both the client’s wellbeing and the counselor’s professional responsibility, minimizing the risk of exploitation or harm.

The other options suggest encouraging or embracing dual relationships, which can lead to ethical dilemmas, or disclosing dual relationships to unauthorized parties, which violates confidentiality and trust. Such practices could compromise the therapeutic alliance and result in detrimental effects for the client and the counselor.