Boundary Issues In Social Work

In this article Frederick Reamer provides an overview of boundary issues in Social work that involves dual and multiple relationships, which are the among the most problematic and challenging. It involves circumstances social workers encounter between their professional duties and either their social, religious, or business relationships. \

In the form of a typology Reamer speaks on the range of boundary issues and to distinguish between problematic and non-problematic issues, and provide guidelines to help practitioners manage boundary issues and risks that arise in practice.

Social workers in the capacity of clinicians, community organizers, policymakers, supervisors, researchers, administrators, or educators encounter possible conflicts of interest

The five categories Reamer mentioned that boundary issues can be placed in are: intimate relationships, pursuit of personal benefit, emotional and dependency needs, altruistic gestures, and responses to unanticipated circumstances (Reamer, 2003).

I had some knowledge of the different type of boundary issues, but this article has allowed me to really explore in depth to the various types of dual or multiple relationships that exist. For I didn’t realize according to Reamer that many dual relationships in social work involve some form of intimacy, which typically entails a sexual relationship or physical contact, as well as other intimate gestures, like gift giving, friendship, and affectionate communication (Reamer, 2003).

His explanation of how cultural and ethnic norms are relevant to boundary issues was enlightening, for he indicated how the worker cannot avoid dual or multiple relationships, but steps should still be taken to protect clients, and to minimize the possibility of ethics complaints, by establishing clear risk management criteria and