Ethics – Professional Boundaries

BRIEF SUMMARY

To cultivate and maintain a healthy counseling relationship, knowing your professional boundaries is essential. Our professional code of ethics helps to guide our professional boundaries as school counselors.

KEY POINTS

• School counselors avoid dual relationships that may cause harm to their students.
• Function within the boundaries of personal competence. Be aware of personal skill levels and limitations.
• Establishing boundaries is an important competency.
• Boundaries delineate personal and professional roles.
• Boundaries are essential to student and school counselor safety.
• Professional relationships with students exist for their benefit.
• When unsure of whether you are crossing your professional boundaries, ask yourself: “Whose needs are being met in this relationship, my student’s or my own?”
• “Boundaries define the helping pathway for patients and professionals and are integral to professional effectiveness.” (Everett and Gallop, 2001)
• Crossing a boundary can become harmful to the student. It can be difficult to assess when harm is caused.
• Violations of professional boundaries can include: disclosure of confidential information, conflicts of interest, exploitative relationships, multiple or non-sexual dual relationships, and others.

SHARED WISDOM

• What I have learned
• What I have learned

RESOURCES

• Boundaries in Counseling PPT
  
  Rate this item:0.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.505.00Submit Rating

  No votes yet.

  Please wait...
• ASCA Ethical Standards, see Section A.5. Dual Relationships and Managing Boundaries
  
  Rate this item:0.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.505.00Submit Rating

  No votes yet.

  Please wait...
• ASCA Ethical Tips for School Counselors: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/school-counselors-members/legal-ethical/ethical-tips-for-school-counselors
  
  Rate this item:0.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.505.00Submit Rating

  No votes yet.

  Please wait...
• Boundary Issues in Counseling: https://www.counseling.org/Publications/FrontMatter/78090-FM.PDF
  Rate this item:0.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.505.00Submit Rating

  No votes yet.

  Please wait...
• Necessary Boundaries for a Healthy Counseling Relationship: https://vantagepointrecovery.com/healthy-counseling-relationship/
  Rate this item:0.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.505.00Submit Rating

  No votes yet.

  Please wait...

CONTACT TOPIC MANAGER

This is a ‘do it ourselves’ web site. So if you would like to help, or have information or resources to share, please contact us today.