title: Addressing multiple relationships between clients and therapists in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender communities.
abstract: Therapists working in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities are likely to experience the potential to engage in multiple relationships with their clients. Currently, the American Psychological Association's (2002) ethics code and the related literature base offer minimal direct guidance to therapists practicing in LGBT communities. In this article, the authors review current literature regarding multiple relationships in psychotherapy, considering how this literature addresses issues specific to practitioners working within LGBT communities, present a case study highlighting the negotiation of a multiple relationship between a client and therapist who both identify as lesbian, and offer recommendations for practitioners working within LGBT communities.
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Program in Counseling Psychology, Department Psychology, Arts and Sciences Building, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA. lek102002@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Waehler
mesh_terms: D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D028743:Professional Misconduct; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D011584:Psychology / Q000941:ethics*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000941:ethics*; D012725:Sexual Behavior