This one day course is for those new to professional boundaries or needing a refresher. The course includes introductions to boundary theory, skills in establishing and maintaining boundaries and is underpinned by the development of a personal boundaries plan.

The course content is finalised following input from individual participants, and a typical day might include the following sessions:

Differences between personal and professional relationships 

Small group brainstorm exercise.  Allows participants to begin thinking about some of the key features that distinguish relationships with their clients from non-professional relationships.

Professional Boundaries, Boundary Crossings and Boundary Violations

Information giving session focusing on what boundaries are and why they are important. Looking at different ways in which boundaries crossings can be initiated, examples of ways in which crossings can occur together with ways of dealing with these situations. An examination into how crossings can escalate to become violations if they are not properly addressed. Definition of professional abuse; some of the common indicators of professional abuse; aspects of ‘helping relationships’ that affect abuse; common characteristics of professional abuse.

Spectrum of Boundary Crossings and Violations

Exercise examining the grey areas of boundary crossings.  

Participants work in small groups with a variety of vignettes concerning scenarios that may constitute appropriate professional behaviour, boundary crossings or boundary violations.  Groups discuss where each vignette should be placed on the spectrum of behaviour.

Boundary dilemmas

Participants examine case studies in small groups to highlight boundary concerns and suggest ways in which practitioners might address them so that they do not become violations in the future.

The slippery slope

Exercise looking at how the theoretical slippery slope model of boundary crossings might operate in practice.