Differentiating multiple relationships from multiple dimensions of involvement: Therapeutic space at the interface of client, therapist, and society

This article focuses on redirecting current thinking from multiple relation ships to the multiple dimensions of our involvements with clients. Given th at people's readiness for human involvement is both desirable and unavoidab le, recognizing and managing these multiple dimensions of involvement is at the heart of professional interactions. A triangular space, formed at the intersection of societal, therapist, and client features, forms the framewo rk in which therapeutic work occurs. In practice, a balance should be maint ained within and among five principles of clinical and ethical practice. Th ese are beneficence, respect for client autonomy, self-awareness, self-inte rest, and openness to objective input. An applied section considers the sou rces of imbalance in the proper management of the multiple dimensions of th erapists' involvements in the psychotherapeutic relationship via a brief co nsideration of two case situations.