Boundaries

Boundaries separate work aimed at the client's psychological needs from the psychologist's own views, feelings and relationships that have nothing to do with the service; they make the work safe and effective and protect both parties, and breaching them can be unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct leading to regulatory action up to cancellation of registration. Effective practice means the psychologist: (a) recognises the built-in power imbalance, in which law and ethics always treat the client as the vulnerable party and place the duty to keep boundaries on the psychologist; (b) is clear about the boundaries needed for objective service and avoids conflicts of interest and both under- and over-involvement; (c) recognises the risks of assessments and interventions involving physical contact, which is acceptable only where the client's best interests call for it and it is part of the psychologist's standard, well documented method that (i) is defensible on ethical, legal or organisational grounds and (ii) has been talked through with an experienced practitioner; (d) ensures any such contact has a clear evidence-based indication and records its reasons, process and outcomes; (e) obtains written consent for it (section 4.2); (f) recognises that self-disclosure to clients or associated parties can be inappropriate and limits it to what serves the client and forms part of a standard, documented method that is defensible and has been talked through with an experienced practitioner; (g) never starts or pursues a sexual, social or other inappropriate relationship with a client or associated party; (h) treats sexual and other close personal relationships, financial and commercial ones included, with former clients as mostly inappropriate and refrains from them until an experienced practitioner has been consulted and found that the service and the client's vulnerability do not make the relationship exploitative, and the steps in section 4.9 have been followed; (i) applies the same test to such relationships with associated parties of former clients; (j) recognises that ethical and legal duties continue after the service ends; and (k) does not share personal beliefs with clients in a way that takes advantage of their vulnerability or is likely to upset them.

• Documented method and evidence-based rationale for any assessment or intervention involving physical contact, with written consent and session records
• Consultation note with an experienced practitioner before any personal, financial or commercial relationship with a former client or their associated party
• Boundaries policy covering self-disclosure, gifts, social media contact and dual roles
• Supervision notes on boundary risks raised in particular cases

• Social media friendship or messaging with current clients
• Physical contact used with no recorded rationale or written consent
• Relationship with a former client entered without any documented consultation
• Therapist self-disclosure recorded as routine practice