According to a major study, the most common complaint made by clients against licensed counselors, psychologists, and social workers involved violations of boundaries (Phelan, 2007). In most cases, when a licensed therapist was disciplined by an ethics board, it was due to the therapist engaging in an inappropriately intimate relationship with a client. Other types of boundary violations included entering into other forms of dual relationships with clients, such as business relationships or friendships.

Use the Internet, your textbook, and the Argosy University online library resources to research ethical boundaries with clients. While reading the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics from your module readings, pay particular attention to “Section A: The Counseling Relationship,” in which you will find code “A.5. Prohibited Noncounseling Roles and Relationships.” Based on your research, respond to the following:

• Discuss at least three ways a human services provider might demonstrate poor boundaries with a client. Provide examples to illustrate each form of boundary violation.
• How could such boundary violations negatively affect a client? Cite information from your text and/or from the ACA Code of Ethics.

Write your initial response in a minimum of 350 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

Review and comment on at least two peers’ responses. Provide a statement of clarification, a point of view with rationale, challenge a point of discussion, or draw a relationship between one or more points of the discussion of at least two other students.

Grading Rubric

All discussion assignments in this course will be graded using a rubric. The purpose of the discussion rubric is to frame and promote collaborative learning. Active and regular participation is not only important for the instructor, but also important for you in learning the course content and in developing your thoughts and positions on various topics. Download the discussion rubric and carefully read it to understand the expectations.

Phelan, J. E. (2007). Membership expulsions for ethical violations from major counseling, psychology, and social work organizations in the United States: a 10-year analysis.Psychological Reports, 101(1), 145-52. Retrieved from:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17958120