Irreconcilable Conflict Between Therapeutic and Forensic Roles

Greenberg, S., Shuman, D, (1997), Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, February 1997 Vol. 28, No. 1, 50-57, American Psychological Association

The authors present the principles that underlie why combining clinical and forensic roles is conflicting and problematical, and stress the importance of avoiding such conflicts, avoiding the threat to the efficacy of therapy, avoiding the threat to the accuracy of judicial determinations, and avoiding deception when providing testimony.

Abstract

Despite being contrary to good patient care and existing clinical and
forensic practice guidelines, some therapists nevertheless engage in
dual clinical and forensic roles. Perhaps because an injured litigant
seeking treatment is required to engage in 2 distinct roles (litigant and
patient), care providers may be tempted to meet both sets of that
person’s needs. Through the presentation of 10 principles that
underlie why combining these roles is conflicting and problematical,
the authors stress the importance of avoiding such conflicts, avoiding
the threat to the efficacy of therapy, avoiding the threat to the
accuracy of judicial determinations, and avoiding deception when
providing testimony.