PROFESSIONAL ETHICS:PROFESSIONAL ETHICS: BBoundaries in Helping oundaries in Helping

RelationshipsRelationships

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Jan Vick, LCSW-BACS, ACSWJan Vick, LCSW-BACS, ACSWJoel A. Vanderlick, LCSWJoel A. Vanderlick, LCSW

Trinell Merricks, GSWTrinell Merricks, GSW

Concept of BoundariesConcept of Boundaries

• A sense of personal identity and self definition that has consistency and cohesion over time.

• This remains constant regardless of emotional ups and downs or external pressures.

• The framework within which the worker-client relationship occurs.

• Provides a system of limit setting• The line between the self of client and self of

worker

Why Talk About BoundariesWhy Talk About Boundaries??

• Reduces risk of client exploitation

• Reduces client anxiety as rules and roles are clear

• Increases well-being of the worker

• Provides role model for clients

Who Negotiates BoundariesWho Negotiates Boundaries??

• Duty of the worker to act in the best interest of the client

• The worker is ultimately responsible for managing boundary issues

Why the WorkerWhy the Worker??

• Worker is the professional!

• Clients may not be aware of the need for boundaries or able to defend themselves against boundary violations

• There is an inherent power imbalance between worker and client- worker is perceived as having power and control

What are Some Examples of What are Some Examples of Boundaries?Boundaries?

Clear Boundary AreasClear Boundary Areas::

• Planning social activities with clients

• Having sex with clients

• Having family members or friends as clients

A Client Should Not Be YourA Client Should Not Be Your::

• Lover• Relative• Employee or Employer• Instructor• Business Partner• Friend

Strictly prohibited by the Social Work Code of Ethics

Areas Where Boundaries May BlurAreas Where Boundaries May Blur::

• Self disclosure

• Giving or receiving significant gifts

• Dual or overlapping relationships

• Becoming friends

• Physical contact

What Are Some Other Areas What Are Some Other Areas Where Boundaries May Be Where Boundaries May Be

Blurred?Blurred?

Danger ZonesDanger Zones

• Over-identification with client’s issues

• Strong attraction to client’s personality

• Strong physical attraction to client

• Clients who can potentially reward you with their influence

• Transference and counter transference

Questions to Ask in Examining Questions to Ask in Examining Potential Boundary Issues:Potential Boundary Issues:

• Is this in my client’s best interest?• Whose needs are being served?• How would I feel telling a colleague about this?• How would this be viewed by the client’s family

or significant other?• Does the client mean something ‘special’ to me?• Am I taking advantage of the client?• Does this action benefit me rather than the

client?

Appropriate Boundaries Appropriate Boundaries ReduceReduce

Risk of Client ExploitationRisk of Client Exploitation

ExploitationExploitation

• Use of professional relationship to promote or advance our emotional, financial, sexual, religious, or personal needs

• Stems from the inherent power differential and the ability we have to exert influence on the client

A Closer Look at ExploitationA Closer Look at Exploitation::

• Client may actually initiate and be gratified by the exploitation- they may enjoy feeling ‘special’ or being ‘helpful’

• Can be subtle and vary from promoting excessive dependency to avoiding confrontation because we enjoy the adoration of our clients

• Using information learned professionally from the client for personal gain

Risk of Client ExploitationRisk of Client Exploitation Increases in Increases in

“Dual Relationship” “Dual Relationship” SituationsSituations

Dual RelationshipsDual Relationships

• When you have more than one role with a client

• Such relationships can blur boundaries

• This ‘blurring of boundaries’ increases the risk of exploitation as roles can become confused

Important NoteImportant Note::

Most cases of sexual exploitation or Most cases of sexual exploitation or other ethical violations began with a other ethical violations began with a step into a seemingly innocent dual step into a seemingly innocent dual relationshiprelationship**

*Taylor Aultman*Taylor Aultman

Not All Client Interactions are Not All Client Interactions are Dual RelationshipsDual Relationships::

• Running into a client at a social event

• Your client is your waiter at a restaurant

• How you participate in the interaction will determine the outcome

Some Dual Relationships are Some Dual Relationships are UnavoidableUnavoidable

• You and a client belong to the same church

• A client lives in your neighborhood

• Your agency hires clients as staff or utilizes clients as volunteers

Dealing with Unavoidable Dealing with Unavoidable Dual RelationshipsDual Relationships

• Open and honest discussion with client on the nature of your relationships

• Separate functions by locations- work, home, etc.

• Be aware of threats to confidentiality

• Understand your role as professional

Group ExerciseGroup Exercise

A client, who is a mother of three latency A client, who is a mother of three latency age children, is facing the breakup of her age children, is facing the breakup of her marriage. She is very concerned about how marriage. She is very concerned about how her children will respond, what steps she her children will respond, what steps she can take to minimize the disruption to their can take to minimize the disruption to their lives, and how she will manage financially lives, and how she will manage financially with the reduced income. The social worker with the reduced income. The social worker relates her own experience of divorce and relates her own experience of divorce and the parenting issues which followed.the parenting issues which followed.

A social worker and client both agree to A social worker and client both agree to terminate services. After several years terminate services. After several years the worker sees the client at a the worker sees the client at a shopping mall. The client offers to take shopping mall. The client offers to take the worker to the food court for lunch to the worker to the food court for lunch to show appreciation for all the help show appreciation for all the help provided during their treatment provided during their treatment sessions.sessions.

You have a client who recently started You have a client who recently started his own small tax accounting business. his own small tax accounting business. He has shared with you that the He has shared with you that the business is struggling and he does not business is struggling and he does not know what he will do if the business know what he will do if the business fails. The client asks to prepare your fails. The client asks to prepare your taxes this year.taxes this year.

You have a client who is an You have a client who is an independent artist and he brings you a independent artist and he brings you a gift of his artwork. The client gathers gift of his artwork. The client gathers the materials for his art from salvage the materials for his art from salvage around town.around town.

You and your family are attending a You and your family are attending a home game. As you are walking to the home game. As you are walking to the stadium a client recognizes you and stadium a client recognizes you and offers for you to join her tailgate party. offers for you to join her tailgate party. The client also notices that your tickets The client also notices that your tickets are in the same area of the stadium as are in the same area of the stadium as hers.hers.

You work in a large outpatient You work in a large outpatient setting that employs several social setting that employs several social workers. You are interested in a workers. You are interested in a client waiting to see a colleague. client waiting to see a colleague.

You are a social worker in private You are a social worker in private practice whose client has just been practice whose client has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. diagnosed with a terminal illness. The client is frightened, crying, and The client is frightened, crying, and hunched over.hunched over.

A year after termination, a client A year after termination, a client calls and invites you to lunch to calls and invites you to lunch to catch up on events that have catch up on events that have transpired since the ending of transpired since the ending of therapy.therapy.

You and a client have similar tastes You and a client have similar tastes and interests. After a year of therapy, and interests. After a year of therapy, you and the client terminate the you and the client terminate the professional relationship. The client professional relationship. The client expresses gratitude at her progress, expresses gratitude at her progress, sadness at the ending of the sadness at the ending of the relationship, and hope that the two of relationship, and hope that the two of you can become friends now that you can become friends now that therapy has ended.therapy has ended.

Minimizing Risk of Exploitation Minimizing Risk of Exploitation and Boundary Crossing:and Boundary Crossing:

• Be alert to potential or actual conflicts of interest

Minimizing Risk of Exploitation Minimizing Risk of Exploitation and Boundary Crossing:and Boundary Crossing:

• Be alert to potential or actual conflicts of interest

• Maintain supervision or consultation relationships

Minimizing Risk of Exploitation Minimizing Risk of Exploitation and Boundary Crossing:and Boundary Crossing:

• Be alert to potential or actual conflicts of interest

• Maintain supervision or consultation relationships

• Be aware that isolation is often a major factor in ethical violations

Minimizing Risk of Exploitation Minimizing Risk of Exploitation and Boundary Crossing:and Boundary Crossing:

• Be alert to potential or actual conflicts of interest

• Maintain supervision or consultation relationships

• Be aware that isolation is often a major factor in ethical violations

• Meet your personal needs in other areas of your life

Minimizing Risk of Exploitation Minimizing Risk of Exploitation and Boundary Crossing:and Boundary Crossing:

• Be alert to potential or actual conflicts of interest• Maintain supervision or consultation

relationships• Be aware that isolation is often a major factor in

ethical violations• Meet your personal needs in other areas of your

life• Relationship should focus on client at all times

Minimizing Risk of Exploitation Minimizing Risk of Exploitation and Boundary Crossing:and Boundary Crossing:

• Be alert to potential or actual conflicts of interest• Maintain supervision or consultation

relationships• Be aware that isolation is often a major factor in

ethical violations• Meet your personal needs in other areas of your

life• Relationship should focus on client at all times• A clear understanding of ethics and attention to

professional boundaries