Navigating the Conflict of Interest in Therapy: A Guide to Ethical Practice

Most people have at least heard the term "conflict of interest" and may have a vague idea of what it means. But what is an ethical conflict of interest in the therapeutic relationship? How can it affect the therapy process? And what should you do if you notice one?

Understanding Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when a therapist’s personal situation or relationship compromises their objectivity, potentially affecting their professional judgment. Some examples of conflicts of interest include dual relationships, personal interests, and relationships with clients or third parties that could impact therapy.

Therapists must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and make an ethical decision that prioritizes the client’s interests. Conflicts of interest can arise from personal relationships, financial interests, or other factors that may compromise professional judgment.

Identifying and Managing Conflicts of Interest

Therapists must be aware of their dual roles as business professionals and medical professionals and remain ethical in all advice provided, as effective management of conflicts of interest is crucial to ensure that clients’ interests are protected. For example, therapists may have a business relationship with health care facilities, but they also have responsibility for their clients in a medical capacity. Their decision making should be in the best interest of a new client, and they may have to push back if their interests conflict.

Strategies for managing conflicts of interest include disclosure, hierarchical steps of review and authorization, and prohibition. Therapists must assess the potential impact on client care and make a decision based on clinical and ethical judgment.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

The BACP Ethical Framework emphasizes the importance of transparency and consultation with supervisors or colleagues to address conflicts of interest. Legal bodies have been incorporated to regulate health care professionals, and specific codes for various professionals have been approved.

Many medical organizations and journals have introduced requirements for authors to disclose any financial interest they have in a study. Therapists must be aware of their professional ethics codes and state regulations as they pertain to conflicts of interest.

Conflicts of Interest in Specific Settings

In small communities, it is essential to maintain professional boundaries and ensure that client relationships are not compromised by personal relationships. A family member or a mutual friend may not feel safe if they are seeing the same therapist.

It may seem like a simple question, but several factors can complicate a conflict of interest with a client. For example, a therapist may have been offering services to a client for many years, and then find that this client is now a student at the local university where they are an adjunct professor, and scheduled in their classes. What is the right choice here? They don't want to take away the services that this client may need, but neither would the therapist want to jeopardize their practice or their teaching position over a conflict of interest with one client.

When working with new clients or longtime clients, therapists must consider the potential impact on the client’s welfare and document steps taken to minimize conflicts and difficulties in treatment. Therapists must be cautious when working with new clients who are related or know each other, and consider referring family members to another therapist for individual therapy to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Personal and Professional Consequences

Conflicts of interest can lead to harmful decisions, biased towards defenseless people, and must be treated more rigorously in medical fields. In some cases, failure to manage conflicts of interest can result in damage to the therapeutic relationship and harm to the client.

Conflicts of interests can be serious, and therapists who fail to disclose conflicts of interest can face legal and professional consequences.

Best Practices for Effective Management

Disclosure is the main action to solve a conflict of interest, and transparency by public declaration is considered the golden rule.

In cases of complicated dual relationships that arise from practicing in small communities, it can be helpful to seek advice from mentors or state and national professional organizations. The rules are not always so cut and dry, and sometimes it can be difficult to determine which is the right path to take.

Review and authorization systems can be used to control conflict of interest as well, and members of review boards should themselves not be in a conflict of interest.

Prohibition is necessary in some cases, and policies disapprove of researchers being remunerated over and above reasonable compensation for extra work.

Avoiding Conflict of Interest in Austin, TX

Effective management of conflicts of interest is crucial to maintain professional integrity and ensure the best care for clients, and therapists must be aware of their personal interests and take steps to manage conflicts of interest to prioritize the client’s interests. By following best practices and being transparent, therapists can navigate conflicts of interest and maintain a professional relationship with their clients.

At Williamsburg Therapy Group, our team of doctoral-level psychotherapists offers a number of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to talk therapy that offer the tools necessary for managing a variety of mental health conditions. And when we take on a new client, be assured that our team understands how to avoid conflicts of interest. If other family members are seeking individual therapy, we can provide quality recommendations to ensure privacy and professional service.

If you are seeking a therapist for any reason, call our service coordinator to be matched with a therapist that can help you work through your feelings in a healthy way, and offer tools and strategies that can help you live your best life.