Essay On Boundary Dilemmas

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In analyzing the video “Subtle Boundary Dilemmas: Ethical Decision Making for Helping Professionals” the video describes the ethical dilemmas professionals face due to boundary issues with clients. This often creates difficult situations as professionals try to maintain appropriate boundaries. The video clearly describes a professional’s role in setting and resetting boundaries to ensure our clients can focus on healing and getting the help the they need to embrace a quality life. It is the social worker’s job to ensure they are able to maintain and build trust and respect with the client, while ensuring clear boundaries are maintained. Boundary issues occur when social workers face conflicts of interest in dual relationships. Dual relationships happen when social workers enter into more than one relationship with a client, such as social, religious or business (Reamer, F., 2003). The video outlines several ethical dilemma’s including a therapist in a dual relationship with a client during the support group. She was presented with a boundary issue when her former client attends a support group, she was faced with how to maintain confidentiality and appropriate boundaries. In my opinion I feel the therapist …show more content…
It is critical for social workers to be aware of their values in practice and for social workers to set and maintain appropriate boundaries. Conscious decision making and collaboration with peers, will be helpful in working through these complex ethical situations.

References
Reamer, F. (2003). Boundary Issues in Social Work: Managing Dual Relationships. Social Work, 48(1), 121-133.
Subtle boundary dilemmas: Ethical decision making for helping professionals [Video file]. (1995).
Workers, N. A. (2008). NASW Code of Ethics (Guide to the Everyday Professional Conduct of Social Workers). Washington, DC:

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