1. Professional Boundaries
Boundaries define the appropriate degree of intimacy between refugee clients and staff. The key is to maintain appropriate distance between a professional relationship and a personal relationship. As social service professionals, it is our responsibility to maintain appropriate degree of professionalism in our interactions with clients.
Are these OK?
Hugging a client
Loaning a client money
Having a meal with a client and his/her family
Hanging out with a client socially
Asking a client to go on a date (what about if the client asks you?)
Figure 1: Two men shaking hands . Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from

2. Hugging a client Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace?
Figure 1: Two men hugging. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from
Hugging a client

3. Loaning a client money Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace?
Figure 1: Two hands exchanging money. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from
Loaning a client money

4. Having a meal with a client and his family
Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace?
3. Having a meal with a client and his/her family
Figure 1: Family having dinner. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from
Having a meal with a client and his family

5. Hanging out with a client socially
Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace?
4. Hanging out with a client socially
Figure 1: Friends having coffee. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from
Hanging out with a client socially

6. Asking for or accepting a date with a client
Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace?
5. Asking a client to go on a date (what about if the client asks you?)
You are not maintaining professional boundaries when:
You use the relationship with the refugee client for your own needs, i.e., social/emotional, financial, or sexual.
You make unnecessary intrusions into the refugee client’s life, i.e., interactions outside of the prescribed professional settings such as the office, home visits, or escorted appointments.
Asking for or accepting a date with a client

7. Sharing a cigarette with a client
Figure 1: A hand holding a cigarette. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from
Sharing a cigarette with a client

8. Giving money to a client
Figure 1: Two hands exchanging money. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from
Giving money to a client

9. Sexual involvement with a client or a client’s family member

10. Abusive behavior towards a client
Figure 1: A figure yelling at another figure. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from
Abusive behavior towards a client

11. Exploitation of a client