As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Jessica practices under the Code of Ethics of The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT): www.aamft.org. In addition, I maintain all standards of care and ethics set forth by the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice: www.nh.gov/mhpb/ .
As part of maintaining ethical practice standards, Jessica avoids dual-relationships, or circumstances where the boundaries between a professional relationship and a personal relationship are not clear. Specifically, this means that Jessica does not spend time socially with current or former clients. AAMFT Code of Ethics clarifies further:
1.3 Marriage and family therapists are aware of their influential positions with respect to clients, and they avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of such persons. Therapists, therefore, make every effort to avoid conditions and multiple relationships with clients that could impair professional judgment or increase the risk of exploitation. Such relationships include, but are not limited to, business or close personal relationships with a client or the client’s immediate family. When the risk of impairment or exploitation exists due to conditions or multiple roles, therapists take appropriate precautions.
As part of maintaining ethical practice standards, Jessica avoids dual-relationships, or circumstances where the boundaries between a professional relationship and a personal relationship are not clear. Specifically, this means that Jessica does not spend time socially with current or former clients. AAMFT Code of Ethics clarifies further:
1.3 Marriage and family therapists are aware of their influential positions with respect to clients, and they avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of such persons. Therapists, therefore, make every effort to avoid conditions and multiple relationships with clients that could impair professional judgment or increase the risk of exploitation. Such relationships include, but are not limited to, business or close personal relationships with a client or the client’s immediate family. When the risk of impairment or exploitation exists due to conditions or multiple roles, therapists take appropriate precautions.