Boundary Setting & Dual Relationships Flashcards

A mentor and mentee realize they attend the same place of worship and will regularly see each other socially. The MOST appropriate step is to:

Answer: Acknowledge the overlap, discuss how they will manage it, and agree on conduct norms for both contexts

Inevitable social overlap requires a proactive conversation to establish how each context will be managed rather than ignoring or eliminating the relationship.

Which ethical principle PRIMARILY underlies the prohibition against exploitative dual relationships in mentoring?

Answer: Non-maleficence — avoiding harm to the mentee by not exploiting the trust and power differential

The prohibition on exploitative dual relationships is grounded in non-maleficence—the duty to avoid using the inherent trust and power imbalance in ways that harm the mentee.

A mentor notices their mentee has begun texting them late at night for emotional support outside of scheduled sessions. The mentor should:

Answer: Address the pattern in the next session, clarifying appropriate contact boundaries and available support resources

Addressing the contact pattern proactively and re-establishing communication norms protects both parties and maintains the professional nature of the relationship.

A mentee from a cultural background where gift-giving to elders is a deeply embedded sign of respect presents the mentor with a modest gift. The culturally responsive AND ethically sound approach is to:

Answer: Acknowledge the cultural meaning, accept the modest gift with appropriate gratitude, and note it in documentation if required by the program

Culturally responsive mentoring recognizes that modest gift-giving may carry deep cultural significance; accepting with awareness and appropriate documentation balances cultural sensitivity with ethical practice.

An organization assigns an employee to be mentored by their own department head. Which boundary concern is MOST critical to address before beginning?

Answer: How performance evaluation authority will be kept separate from the mentoring relationship

When a mentor holds evaluation authority over the mentee, the mentee may self-censor to protect their performance record, directly undermining the openness mentoring requires.

When a mentor documents the existence of a potential dual relationship for a program coordinator, the MAIN purpose of this documentation is to:

Answer: Create a record that enables oversight, consultation, and corrective action if needed

Documentation creates an accountability trail that allows program administrators to provide oversight, consultation, and intervention to protect the mentoring relationship's integrity.

A mentor who has completed a mentoring engagement is later asked by the former mentee to become their executive coach for compensation. According to CPM guidance, the mentor should:

Answer: Evaluate whether sufficient time has passed, whether roles are clearly distinct, and whether any conflicts of interest exist before agreeing

Post-mentoring professional arrangements require careful evaluation of timing, role clarity, and potential conflicts of interest rather than automatic approval or refusal.