Managing dual relationships

On Thursday 3 July we will hold an ethics event on managing dual relationships. 

Professional boundaries are key to safe therapeutic practice. Understanding and holding boundaries keeps both therapists and clients safe. UKCP is currently developing supplementary guidance on this important topic.

Led by Julie Stone, we are delighted to see the return of Sally Openshaw and welcome Fiona Walkingshaw as a new addition to the panel diving into the theme of Managing dual relationships. This session is the second in a series of activities to highlight some of the core issues which therapists need to be aware of, which begins with noticing that a boundary issue is emerging – including attentiveness to our thoughts, feelings, sensations and behaviours.

The event will explore what we mean by dual relationships – specifically, where therapists find themselves in a second, non-therapeutically based relationship with a patient and how to manage this situation. This might include social situations – mutual friends, or a shared activity or role, such as school governor. The session will also explore dual relationships as they arise in an educational context, e.g. where course tutors offer personal therapy, or supervision to students.

Using case examples, and questions raised in advance by participants, and with reference to the UKCP Code, this workshop will offer some practical skills in managing dual relationships. We hope that this session will stimulate and encourage active involvement in the development of UKCP guidance.

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Our speakers:

Sally Openshaw

Psychotherapist

COSRT senior accredited member, IIPA President

Sally Openshaw is a psychosexual and relationship therapist.  She trained in Integrative Therapy and finds working developmentally and relationally is vital when explore sexuality and relationships.   She has a specialist interest in working with erotic transference and counter-transference people.    She is a Trainer and Supervisor and works Nationally and Internationally.  She is currently President of The International Integrative Association.

Julie Stone

UKCP’s independent ethics lead

Chair of UKCP's Ethics Committee

An academic healthcare lawyer and ethicist by background, Julie Stone has directly influenced healthcare regulatory strategy, policy development and professional standards for over thirty years, advising regulators, professional associations and Government.  With a broad portfolio of strategic advisory roles, including, previously, member of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Mental Health Strategy, and Non-Executive Director for a Mental Health provider Trust, Julie is known nationally for her work on professional boundaries and therapeutic relationships (see, most recently, Stone, J (2022) Supporting Professionals: Protecting Patients. Shifting the Narrative on Professional Boundaries in Osteopathy). Her books include: Jenkins, P, Stone, J and Keter, V.  (2004). Psychotherapy and the Law: Questions and Answers for Counsellors and Therapists.  Whurr; Stone, J (2002). An Ethical Framework for Complementary and Alternative Therapists. Routledge; and Stone J and Matthews, J (1996).  Complementary Medicine and the Law.  Oxford University Press.  A stand-up comedian and performer, Julie combines comedy and performance art to deliver innovative ethics training.

Fiona Walkinshaw

Fiona is an Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Adult Counsellor with a background in law, and experience of supervising and training counsellors and psychotherapists. She is the Ethics Lead for the College for Child and Adolescent Psychotherapies (CCAP). Her engagement on the Ethics Committee reflects her interest not only in our psychotherapeutic offer but also in our ethical reflexivity about how we practice and how this supports us to be with complexity and uncertainty.

Learning objectives

During this event, you will: 

• Gain an understanding of boundaries in relation to dual relationships, including:
  • what is meant by a dual relationship and how this relates to boundaries
  • the therapist’s responsibility to always create and maintain effective boundaries
  • the expectation that dual relationships can arise in multiple contexts.
• Consider two core areas of dual relationships – social contexts and educational environments
• Explore practical ways of responding relationally and professionally to dual relationship challenges.

Who should attend?

This event is for UKCP members, education providers and UKCP students, and the same for other therapists and students on accredited registers. This will be a  practitioner/trainer/student workshop – it not for journalists or clients.

CPD

After this event you will receive a certificate of attendance which you can submit for consideration towards your CPD hours.

Registration

Event T&Cs

You can view UKCP's terms and conditions for booking and attending events on our website. When you register to attend a UKCP event you are agreeing with the event terms and conditions.

Contact us

If you have any queries about this event or you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact events@ukcp.org.uk.

Register for this event