Chapter 9
Boundary Issues
FOCUS QUESTIONS
1.How would you define the term dual relationship?
Points instructors may want to make:
2.What are differences between a friendship and a counseling relationship?
Points instructors may want to make:
3. Do you think a sexual relationship between a counselor and a former client is ever
acceptable? Why, or why not?
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Points instructors may want to make:
4. What would you do if you found yourself experiencing a strong sexual attraction to a
client you were counseling?
Points instructors may want to make:
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY
Title: Dual Relationships
Learning
Goal: Students learn about their own and others’ understanding of dual relationships.
Explore personal feelings related to dual relationships.
Procedures: Give a brief introduction to the concept of dual relationships and then assign
students to small groups. Allow each member of the group to fill out the survey
provided in the text (Figure 9-1, page 225). Then allow students to discuss their
reactions to the survey.
Discussion
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Questions: Which of the items seemed to have a clear answer?
Which of them were not as clear and why?
What did you learn about yourself and others?
What was this exercise like for you?
Point/Counterpoint (Debate) Topics
Title: Friendships with Former Clients
Learning
Goal: To consider the risks and benefits of post-termination friendships with clients.
Procedures: Assign (or allow students to volunteer) 2 groups of students (preferably 3-5
students per group) to each take one of the positions described below and
prepare a 5-minute argument in favor of that position. Have each group present
its argument. Next, allow the groups to confer for 2 minutes and then have each
group present its rebuttal to the other group’s argument. Lastly, have the class
members who served as the audience vote for which side was most persuasive.
Point: Counselors should feel free to develop friendships with former clients after a
certain length of time has passed since the professional relationship ended.
vs.
Counterpoint: Counselors would be wise to avoid developing friendships with former
clients.
Title: Accepting Gifts from Clients
Learning
Goal: To explore the multiple considerations involved in determining whether or not
to accept a gift from a client.
Point: Counselors should determine on a case-by-case whether or not to accept a gift
offered by a client.
vs.
Counterpoint: Counselors should have a policy that they do not accept gifts from
clients and should adhere to that policy.
OUTSIDE CLASS ACTIVITY
Title: Personal and Professional Boundaries
Learning
Goal: To reflect on personal and professional boundaries. Use the ethical decision-
making model provided in the text (pages 17-18) to reflect on a dual
relationship you have been involved in or with which you have some
experience. Reflect on your decision to remain in that position.
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Procedures: Write a 2- to 4-page paper reflecting on your personal or professional
experiences with establishing boundaries related to dual relationships. Discuss
ways in which you intend to continue to set boundaries and address the issue of dual
relationships as a professional counselor.
Topic for Self-Reflection/Journaling
Topic: Think ahead to the time when you are practicing as a counselor. Under what
circumstances do you anticipate that you might self-disclose to a client? What kinds
of information about yourself would you be willing to share, and what kinds of
information would you avoid disclosing? To what extent are these decisions
influenced by your theoretical orientation? The nature of your clientele? Your
setting?
CASE STUDY
You are a counselor at a community based mental health clinic. You primarily see children,
adolescents and their families. One day, you are presented with a gift from a 9-year-old client. It
is something he has made for you. Do you keep it, or do you refuse it?
Case Study Discussion
1. What should you do?
2. What options do you have?
3. Explore with the client his reasons for giving you the gift. Explain that you do not expect
anything for helping him. Then, decide if it would be less harmful to keep the gift or give it
back, keeping in mind the age and developmental stage of the client.
SHORT PAPER OR ORAL CLASS PRESENTATION TOPICS
1. Develop a list of the potential benefits of dual relationships. Then, develop a list of the
potential risks. Do the benefits outweigh the risks, or is the opposite true?
2. What steps will I take in the future to ensure that I establish and maintain clear professional
boundaries?
3. Locate a current research article that deals with an aspect of dual relationships that is of
interest to you. Present the article to the class and give a critique, including what you
agreed with, what you did not agree with, and any first-hand experiences related to the
article.