Boundary Issues

It may not be possible or reasonable for counselors to always avoid dual relationships with clients. For example, counselors who live and work in small rural communities may attend the same religious institutions as their clients, or use the same libraries, doctors, or other services.

In these multiple-relationship situations, counselors would not be in violation of ethical standards if they took reasonable steps to protect their objectivity and efficacy, and to avoid possibilities of exploitation or harm.

Counselors and supervisors usually consider dual relationships on a continuum of risk. As you work through the notion of dual relationships, you should consider the relationship with your client and the context of the situation. It is also important to consider the impact of dual roles on the power dynamics of the therapeutic relationship.

For example, clients, students, and supervisees have less experience, knowledge, and power compared with licensed counselors and supervisors. Consequently, they are less likely to recognize inappropriate boundary crossings or to express their concerns about these crossings. It is your responsibility as an ethical practitioner to monitor and ensure appropriate boundaries across all related counseling situations.

For this Discussion, review the Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Boundary Issues media and consider the population that you are interested in working with as a professional counselor.

Then, review the Learning Resources for this week and explore potential boundary issues you may encounter while working with this population. Reflect on potential benefit or harm related to boundary crossing. Finally, consider potential consultants who might be able to address any boundary issues.

Post by Day 3 a brief description of the population you selected. Then, explain any potential boundary issues you anticipate may be challenging in working with this population and explain why. Explain the potential benefit or harm associated with boundary crossing with this population.

Finally, explain who you might consult with to address this boundary issue and why.
Be sure to use the Learning Resources and the current literature to support your response.

Respond by Day 5 and expand on your colleague's posting by providing an alternate perspective on how you would work with your colleague's selected population. Provide potential boundary crossing challenges that your colleague did not discuss and offer potential solutions for addressing these challenges.

Attachment:- Boundary Issues.rar