At Personal Risk: Boundary Violations in Professional-Client Relationships

At Personal Risk: Boundary Violations in Professional-Client Relationships

• Professional Ethics
• Boundary Violations in Professional-client relationships
• At Personal Risk
• Marilyn R. Peterson

<p><strong>This book addresses boundary violations through the lens of the professional-client relationship, drawing examples of misconduct from law, medicine, religion, education and psychotherapy.</strong></p> The first three chapters cover the social context of the relationship, the inherent power differential that delineates the relational boundaries, and professionals€ difficulty with managing that power appropriately. Also discussed are the four characteristics of a boundary violation€•a reversal of roles, a secret, a double bind, and an indulgence of professional privilege€•and the damage to the client. Throughout the book, clients share their stories of violations€•sometimes blatant, often subtle€•in relationships. These vignettes, along with Peterson€s engaging style, transform ethics from dry, abstract, and theoretical principles to vital struggles to understand and appropriately manage power with clients.