Boundary issues in clinical practice as reported by Army social workers

Abstract

Clinical practice in military settings requires the clinician to be acutely aware of boundary issues that may arise. Given the legal significance associated with therapeutic relationships in which one stands in a special relationship of trust, confidence, or responsibility, setting appropriate boundaries in practice is critical. This article specifically addresses various questions faced by mental health practitioners in making boundary-related choices. The code of ethics of the National Association of Social Work as well as those of other disciplines now place increasing emphasis on the obligation to protect the public from known or perceived risks emanating from boundary crossings. This article presents the findings of a study involving active duty and reserve Army clinical social work officers regarding boundary issues. The study addresses the social work officers' perceptions of boundary issues and behavior related to boundary choices in clinical practice. The results provide insight regarding boundary crossings, boundary violations, and dual relationships.