When Dr. A notices that her student Mary could benefit from therapy, what ethical obligation does Dr. A have?

In situations where a therapist identifies that a student may benefit from therapy, an important ethical principle is the avoidance of dual relationships. By declining the request to become her therapist, Dr. A upholds professional boundaries and adheres to ethical standards that promote client welfare and integrity within the therapeutic relationship.

Becoming Mary's therapist could potentially lead to conflicts of interest or exploitation of the power differential inherent in their relationship as teacher and student. Additionally, a therapeutic bond requires a degree of objectivity and neutrality that might be compromised due to their existing relationship.

In many ethical guidelines, including those from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries is emphasized to protect both the client's best interests and the therapist's professional integrity. Therefore, by choosing to decline the request for therapy, Dr. A is fulfilling her ethical obligation to provide the best possible outcome for Mary while also protecting her own professional standing.