Lines drawn Roles Interactions Professional Boundaries establish appropriate limits to the professional – participant relationship. Mental Health Association

October, 2011 Mental Health Association October, 2011

Contracted services depend on professionalism. Increases awareness of participant rights Complaints often center around professionalism Professional Boundaries establish appropriate limits to the provider – participant relationship. Mental Health Association

They help protect against the risk of harm. Protects participants Protects providers Mental Health Association Boundaries help you recognize the difference between professional and personal relationships

Professional boundaries create appropriate distance. Protects participants from agency concerns. Protects participants from staff worries. Mental Health Association Protects staff from taking on participant challenges as their own.

Yours. Not the participant’s. You follow agency policy. You reserve your personal issues for friendships outside the workplace. Mental Health Association You set the standards by the way you carry yourself and the things you say.

Boundaries give each person a sense of legitimate control in a relationship. protect the space between the professional’s power and the participant’s vulnerability. Mental Health Association promote a productive, positive workplace.

Laws Licensing bodies Specialty organizations Work place policy Individuals Laws Licensing bodies Specialty organizations Work place policy Individuals Mental Health Association

Personal  Limitless  Equals  Doesn’t require formal preparation  No fee/money  Mutual gain  Mutually agreed upon levels of intimacy  Mutually agreed upon confidentiality with no legal bounds.  Limitless  Equals  Doesn’t require formal preparation  No fee/money  Mutual gain  Mutually agreed upon levels of intimacy  Mutually agreed upon confidentiality with no legal bounds. Professional  Have limits and boundaries  Power differential  Require formal training  Money/fees/funding  For purpose of participant gain  No physical intimacy  Rules of confidentiality  Have limits and boundaries  Power differential  Require formal training  Money/fees/funding  For purpose of participant gain  No physical intimacy  Rules of confidentiality Mental Health Association

Personal Unlimited time frame Anywhere, anytime No goal oriented Not documented No defined roles No codes of ethics Unlimited time frame Anywhere, anytime No goal oriented Not documented No defined roles No codes of ethics Professional Scheduled interaction / time limit Place designated / time limited Well defined focus / goals Documented Legally defined roles, licenses, codes of ethics Scheduled interaction / time limit Place designated / time limited Well defined focus / goals Documented Legally defined roles, licenses, codes of ethics Mental Health Association

Maintain proper physical distance – Don’t touch participants in an inappropriate manner or one that can be misconstrued Failure to see the participant as a participant. Don’t assume unless they tell you – Boundaries are unique to each person – Proceed carefully – When in doubt ask Maintain proper physical distance – Don’t touch participants in an inappropriate manner or one that can be misconstrued Failure to see the participant as a participant. Don’t assume unless they tell you – Boundaries are unique to each person – Proceed carefully – When in doubt ask Mental Health Association

 Beware of feeling informal.  Careless whispers-pretend a personal microphone is always on.  Refrain from gossip “let’s not go there.”  Never say something you wouldn’t want heard or repeated.  Walls are thin.  Think before you hit the send button.  Take the mail to the correct address-directly and privately.  Respond in a controlled manner verses reacting.  Employ tact.  Beware of feeling informal.  Careless whispers-pretend a personal microphone is always on.  Refrain from gossip “let’s not go there.”  Never say something you wouldn’t want heard or repeated.  Walls are thin.  Think before you hit the send button.  Take the mail to the correct address-directly and privately.  Respond in a controlled manner verses reacting.  Employ tact. Mental Health Association

An action or behavior that deviates from an established professional boundary in the health care provider-participant relationship. May be intentional or unintentional. An action or behavior that deviates from an established professional boundary in the health care provider-participant relationship. May be intentional or unintentional. Mental Health Association Even when the action or behavior appears appropriate, it is not acceptable when it benefits your needs rather than the needs of the participant.

Are never appropriate Actions or behaviors by a professional which use the relationship to meet personal needs of the professional at the expense of the participant. Harm the participant Are exploitative Violate ethical standards Can result in disciplinary action at work or by professional associations, or result in criminal charges. Mental Health Association

Respect the individual characteristics of the participant such as cultural and social identity, appearance, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, age, talents, and skills. Mental Health Association