The play date
at
Read the vignette and analyze the potential ethical/legal issues reflected in the vignettes, and comment on the availability of options for each of the therapists depicted in the vignettes. How would you have handled these situations?
Vignette 3
Maria is a licensed child psychologist who has recently enrolled her 10-year-old daughter in the area’s only art class. Her daughter quickly made friends with one of the other students and asked if she could come over for a play date. Maria discovers the student is one of her clients. She speaks with the client’s mother and the mother assures her she feels comfortable with the girls’ developing friendship. Maria agrees to the play date.
Sample Solution
The ethical and legal issues in this vignette reflect the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries between therapist and patient. In Maria’s case, she enrolls her daughter in an art class not knowing that one of her clients is also enrolled. When her daughter develops a friendship with the client, Maria speaks with their mother and agrees to a play date despite the potential risks associated with such dual relationships. Though Maria may have felt comfortable with this arrangement based on the mother’s assurance, she should have considered other options before proceeding.
Maria should have considered other options that would allow her daughter to maintain a friendship without compromising professional ethics or potentially breaking any laws related to patient-therapist interactions. For example, she could have arranged for supervised play dates at neutral venues (e.g., park or library) instead of allowing them to interact outside these controlled environments where it could be difficult for her as a clinician to properly monitor their interactions. Another option would be for Maria to refer out the child’s therapy needs so as not to create any conflict of interest between herself and her daughter’s friend.
I would have handled this situation by exploring alternative solutions first before agreeing to the play date since my client was involved. Additionally, I would ensure that I consulted with my colleagues or attorney prior to making any decisions related to employing someone who had previously served as my patient so as not to cross any ethical or legal lines.