ABSTRACT
Military settings pose special challenges. In addition to providing clinical services in formal mental health clinics on the base, some mental health professionals are now “embedded” with military units; when these units deploy to a war zone or other theater of operation, behavioral health professionals travel with them to enhance personnel’s access to mental health services. These mental health clinicians may be required to share living quarters with clients. Clinicians may interact with clients informally outside of therapeutic sessions in a variety of ways that lead to challenging and, possibly, unethical dual relationships, for example, as a result of socializing, playing games, or attending entertainment events. The absence of a formal office setting and structure can increase the likelihood of casual and, ultimately, problematic dual relationships (Johnson, 2011).
