The therapeutic (clinical, working) relationship is always there (often, to some extent, even after the therapy has stopped). Other relationships are generally discouraged, but the strength of the discouragement or prohibition varies with several things. Some of those variables include the kind of "relationship" (cordial? friend? employee? intimate? relative?); whether or not there is some legitimate reason for a "relationship" (e.g., being a trainee in a program in which the therapist is a faculty member); the type and frequency of treatment or therapy (e.g., one-time consultation? office psychotherapy? community case management?); whether or not the treatment has been terminated; how long ago it was terminated (some states have laws about this, and some professional organizations' ethics refer to it), etc. The therapeutic relationship may, under some circumstances, extend beyond the therapy sessions; however, the purpose and ramifications of that extension should be legitimate and clearly understood. For example, some treatments for dysfunctional or disabled patients/clients may legitimately include employing them or spending time with them in social, vocational, or recreational settings. Psychotherapy patients/clients often want some relationship with their therapist in addition to the therapeutic one, and often fantasize about or even attempt to create one. This is not the same as a therapist's instigating such a relationship or allowing an inappropriate one to continue.
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