Which scenario is not necessarily a dual relationship if appropriate?

• A. Counselor dating a client
• B. Counselor referring to a doctor
• C. Counselor accepting client's property
• D. Counselor also providing legal services

Answer: (B)

In counseling ethics, a dual relationship raises concern when a therapist takes on another role with the same person in a way that could impair judgment or exploit trust. Referring a client to a doctor is a normal part of coordinating comprehensive care and does not by itself create a second, entangling role. It supports the client’s health needs by ensuring medical evaluation or treatment is accessible, and it preserves professional boundaries as long as the referral is appropriate, confidential, and separate from any personal or financial entanglements.

The other scenarios illustrate boundary issues that can compromise objectivity or create exploitation: dating a client crosses the professional line into a personal relationship; accepting a client’s property can create dependence or a conflict of interest; and providing legal services adds a completely different professional role that can undermine the counseling relationship. When referrals are used appropriately to connect clients with necessary care, they remain ethically sound.