A dual relationship in ABA (applied behavior analysis) occurs when a behavior analyst has both a professional relationship and a second relationship with a client, their family, or a supervisee. That second relationship could be personal, social, financial, or any connection that exists outside the professional role. The BACB Ethics Code addresses this under Item 1.11 (multiple relationships), recognizing that these overlapping connections can compromise the quality of services and put clients at risk of harm.
How the BACB Defines Multiple Relationships
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board uses the term “multiple relationships” rather than “dual relationships,” though the terms are interchangeable in practice. A multiple relationship exists whenever a behavior analyst is in a professional role with someone and simultaneously holds another role with that same person, a close relative of that person, or someone closely associated with them.
The ethical concern is not that two relationships exist. It’s that the second relationship could impair the analyst’s objectivity, reduce the effectiveness of treatment, or create a situation where the client feels pressured or exploited. A behavior analyst who clearly defines their role, knows exactly who the client is, and understands the responsibilities of everyone involved in treatment is better positioned to recognize when a boundary is at risk. Without that clarity, lines blur quickly.
Common Examples in ABA Settings
Dual relationships in ABA tend to fall into a few recurring categories, many of which arise naturally given the close, in-home nature of the work.
- Social relationships: A behavior analyst becomes friends with a client’s parent, socializes with them outside sessions, or connects with them on social media in ways that go beyond professional communication.
- Business or financial relationships: A BCBA hires a client’s parent for a side project, or a registered behavior technician (RBT) accepts a babysitting job from a family they serve professionally.
- Communal relationships: The analyst and client’s family attend the same church, their children go to the same school, or they shop at the same small-town businesses where regular interaction is unavoidable.
- Institutional relationships: In some settings like schools or residential facilities, a behavior analyst may serve in multiple capacities for the same individual, such as both designing a behavior plan and making administrative decisions about that person’s placement.
- Supervisory overlap: A BCBA supervises someone who is also a friend, romantic partner, or family member. The power dynamic in supervision makes this particularly risky.
The babysitting scenario comes up constantly in ABA discussions because it’s so tempting and so common. An RBT already knows the child, the family trusts them, and the family needs help. But accepting that role creates a second relationship where the professional dynamic shifts. The RBT is now an employee of the family in a different capacity, which can make it harder to deliver objective feedback during sessions or maintain consistent professional boundaries.
Why Dual Relationships Are Risky
The core problem is impaired judgment. When you have a personal stake in a relationship with a client’s family, your clinical decisions can be subtly influenced by that connection. You might hesitate to recommend a more intensive intervention because you don’t want to strain the friendship. You might overlook a parent’s inconsistency with a behavior plan because you socialize with them on weekends. You might give preferential scheduling to a family you’re personally close to.
None of this has to be intentional. That’s what makes dual relationships dangerous. The bias operates below the surface, and the person most affected is the client, who depends on the analyst’s objectivity for effective treatment. The BACB Ethics Code specifically flags that evidence-based practice alone does not prevent exploitative or dual relationships. Good clinical skills don’t automatically protect against boundary problems.
There’s also a power imbalance to consider. Behavior analysts hold significant influence over a client’s treatment plan, goals, and access to services. When a second relationship exists, the client or their family may feel unable to voice concerns, disagree with recommendations, or file complaints because they fear it will affect the personal relationship or, worse, their child’s services.
When Dual Relationships Are Unavoidable
Not every dual relationship is a violation. In rural communities, small towns, and tight-knit cultural communities, overlapping relationships are practically guaranteed. Your client’s mother might be the only pharmacist in town. Your child might be on the same soccer team as your client. You might attend the same religious services.
The ethical standard recognizes this reality. The goal is not to avoid all multiple relationships at any cost, which would be highly impractical in many settings. Instead, the expectation is that behavior analysts manage these situations thoughtfully. That means identifying the dual relationship early, documenting it, discussing it openly with the relevant parties, and putting safeguards in place to protect the professional relationship.
In practice, this might look like setting clear expectations about how interactions will work outside the clinical context, consulting with a colleague or supervisor about the situation, or in some cases, transferring the client to another provider if the overlap is too significant to manage safely. The key distinction the BACB draws is between relationships that can be managed ethically and those that carry a real risk of exploitation or harm.
Professional Consequences of Violations
The BACB takes multiple relationship violations seriously. Between 2019 and 2021, the Board substantiated 7 violations specifically categorized as “nonsexual multiple or exploitive relationships” among BCBAs and BCaBAs. That may sound like a small number, but it reflects only the cases that were reported, investigated, and formally substantiated.
The consequences are significant. During that same period, the BACB issued 26 credential revocations and 11 suspensions for BCBAs and BCaBAs across all ethics categories. For RBTs, the numbers were even more striking: 552 revocations and 2 suspensions. While these totals cover all types of violations, dual relationship issues can and do lead to the most severe penalties, including permanent loss of certification.
Beyond formal sanctions, a substantiated ethics complaint becomes part of a certificant’s record with the Board. This can affect employment, supervision privileges, and professional reputation in a field where trust is foundational to the work.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Clients
The most effective safeguard is awareness. Before entering any ABA professional relationship, consider whether you already have a connection with the client, their family, or anyone closely involved. If you do, evaluate honestly whether that connection could influence your clinical work.
Document dual relationships when they arise, even minor ones. If you run into a client’s family at a community event, that’s not a violation, but if those interactions become regular and personal, the dynamic shifts. Keep your supervisor informed. Many boundary problems escalate gradually, and an outside perspective helps you see what you might rationalize away.
Set boundaries proactively with families. ABA services often happen in homes over months or years, which naturally breeds familiarity. Being warm and professional is not the same as being friends. You can maintain a strong therapeutic alliance without accepting social invitations, exchanging personal gifts, or sharing details about your private life that shift the relationship’s center of gravity.
For supervisors, be especially cautious about supervising people with whom you have a pre-existing personal relationship. The power differential in supervision makes it nearly impossible to maintain objectivity when the person you’re evaluating is also someone you care about personally. If you can refer them to another qualified supervisor, that’s almost always the better path.