Introduction to Boundaries: Part A of Boundaries Series

1) The issues discussed in the video comprise of the relationships in psychotherapy that are defined by therapeutic boundaries between the therapist and the patient. Some issues that may arise and affect these relationships and their boundaries include touching, or even gifts exchanged between them. Boundaries can be broadly categorized into boundary crossings and boundary violations. These refer to variations from traditionally accepted forms of therapy where the party involved. Boundary violations are the case when therapists cross the boundary lines of decency and violate their patients and intentionally inflict physical or psychological harm to the patient. There are also boundary crossings that are often clinically effective interventions done by the therapist for the benefit of the client. They are neutral, ethical, and benign and are based on a clear clinical rationale and are for the client’s best interests like lunch with an anorexic client.

2) The flexibility boundaries arose due to a shift in attitudes towards boundaries in psychotherapy. In the early years, the boundaries between therapists and their clients were loose such that therapists would even go for lunch with their patients. Today boundaries and relationships focus on more openness allowing dual relationships and bartering. Self-disclosure is governed by transparency between the therapist and the clients. The therapist discloses their personal, not professional, information to the client. A therapist d…