Question

You receive a phone call from Pat, a former high school sweetheart and first sex partner. You and Pat have not spoken in 20 years, and now Pat asks if you will provide treatment for some life adjustment issues. Pat says you would be perfect because there is already trust between you from the old days. How would you proceed? Content Area: Ethics: Professional Competence and Preventing Harm. This question tests your ethical information regarding therapy with former sexual partners. A. Decline to see Pat because professional ethics forbid social workers from treating former sex partners. B. Make an appointment with Pat since there are no laws or ethics about treating someone with whom a social worker has previously had sex. C. Agree to treat Pat since it has been more than two years since there was a sexual relationship. D. Decline to see Pat because social workers cannot have sex with former clients.

Answer 1

In accordance with professional ethics, a therapist shouldn't provide treatment to a former sexual partner due to the potential conflict of interest and risk of harm. It's imperative to maintain professional boundaries to ensure effective care, regardless of the therapy modality. Therefore, you should decline Pat's request and refer them to another professional. correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given scenario, there's a clear conflict of interest because of your prior personal relationship with Pat, the potential client. According to professional ethical guidelines provided by many psychotherapists' associations, such as the American Psychological Association (APA) or the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), it is inappropriate to enter into a therapeutic relationship with a former sexual partner as there's a potential breach of professional boundaries and risk of harm to the client.

These guidelines emphasize the need for professional competence and preventing harm. The relationship between therapist and client should fall strictly within professional boundaries to maintain objectivity and professionalism. This helps ensure the therapist provides the most effective care possible, minimizing potential harm to the client due to bias or emotional entanglement.

Learn more about Professional Ethics in Therapy