Dual relationships

Dual relationships and boundaries for registered psychotherapists (CRPO Standard 1.7)

Facts checked against CRPO's and Ontario's official sources on October 21, 2026.

Under CRPO Standard 1.7, a registered psychotherapist avoids dual relationships with current clients except in extenuating circumstances, such as practising in a small community, and should avoid them with former clients. Before entering any dual relationship, the RP applies and documents ethical and clinical judgment, and keeps professional boundaries online and in person. Sexual contact is a separate matter under Standard 1.8 and the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991: a person remains a client for five years after therapy ends, and clients cannot consent to sexual contact with their therapist.

What counts as a dual relationship

CRPO defines a dual relationship as "an additional role between a registrant and their psychotherapy client". The additional role can be personal, social (shared events, overlapping social spaces or support groups), financial, or a separate professional role. It can be a chance meeting or something more involved.

The test is the role, not whether it feels exploitative. CRPO's commentary explains that a second role can confuse both people about which relationship applies, can lead a client to defer to a therapist who also has authority over them (as an employer, say), and can bend the therapist's judgment. Because of the power imbalance, these risks exist even when the client asks for or agrees to the second relationship.

The four statements of Standard 1.7

Statement	What it requires
1.7.1	Avoid dual relationships with current clients, except in extenuating circumstances such as practising in a small community
1.7.2	Should avoid dual relationships with former clients
1.7.3	Apply and document ethical and clinical judgment before engaging in a dual relationship with a current or former client
1.7.4	Maintain professional boundaries both online and in person

CRPO also lists behaviours to avoid because they can lead to a dual relationship: non-therapeutic self-disclosure, gift giving, and meeting outside the clinical setting. A clinical setting is not only an office: virtual practice from home or walking therapy can qualify, with appropriate boundaries in place.

Small communities

A small community is one where it is impractical or impossible not to have a dual relationship with a client. CRPO's definition is wide: communities can be geographic, cultural, spiritual, academic or professional, or based on a shared characteristic such as disability, sexuality or identity. Some clients choose a therapist from their own community on purpose.

The Standard does not ask the RP to refuse these clients. It asks for judgment and safeguards. When the overlap is known in advance, discuss its risks and benefits as part of informed consent, agree with the client what each of you will do if you meet in the community, and document the discussion and your reasoning. Standard 1.7.3 makes that last step compulsory, and it is the one most often left out.

Former clients and sexual boundaries

For non-sexual relationships with former clients, CRPO accepts that an outright ban is unworkable, especially when the new relationship arises many years later after brief therapy. Before entering one, the RP weighs the likelihood of harm, any remaining power imbalance, the nature, length and intensity of the therapy, the nature of the new relationship, the issues the client brought, the chance the client will want to return to therapy, the time elapsed, and the client's vulnerability.

Sexual relationships follow stricter rules, set out in Standard 1.8 and the RHPA:

For the purposes of sexual abuse allegations, a person remains a client for five years after the professional relationship ends. CRPO's materials state no one-year rule.
After five years, RPs must still refrain from sexual conduct with a former client where a power imbalance continues and places them at risk of undue influence, harm or exploitation.
Sexual intercourse with a client carries mandatory revocation of registration for at least five years.
Clients cannot consent to sexual contact with their therapist, because of the power imbalance.

Gifts, social media and training programs

Gifts. CRPO sets no dollar limit. A gift is a boundary question under 1.7, a possible conflict of interest under 1.6 (actual, potential or perceived), and an undue influence question under 1.8.3, which names wills and powers of attorney. Standard 6.1.6 adds that RPs should not barter their services with clients.

Social media. RPs keep personal profiles private, use professional accounts for practice activity, have a social media policy that they explain at the start of therapy, and avoid personal online relationships with clients and with clients' family members and intimate partners. "Liking", "friending" or "following" can be a boundary crossing whoever starts it.

Training programs. Instructors should not provide therapy to their own students, and a student's therapist should not be involved in the program's day-to-day operation.

How it is tested

Dual relationship items usually turn on a small town, a friend request, a gift, or a client who proposes meeting once therapy ends. The options that score well name the overlap with the client, set or restate the boundary, take the question to supervision where needed, and record the reasoning. The options that look kind (accepting the request so the client does not feel rejected, agreeing to meet socially after the last session) tend to carry negative weight. The professional conduct module covers 1.6 to 1.8 in depth, and the client-therapist relationship module covers the consent and confidentiality rules these cases draw on. The free diagnostic tests this kind of judgment.

Common questions

Can a psychotherapist see a client they know socially?

Sometimes. Standard 1.7.1 allows it in extenuating circumstances, such as a small community, if the RP discusses the risks with the client, agrees how to handle outside contact, and documents that judgment.

Can an RP in Ontario date a former client?

Not within five years of the end of therapy, when the person is still a client for sexual abuse purposes. After that, the RP must still refrain while a power imbalance places the former client at risk.

Can a therapist accept a gift from a client?

CRPO sets no value limit. The RP weighs the gift against the dual relationship, conflict of interest and undue influence standards and documents the decision.