Psychology Boundaries and Self-Care - Term Paper Example

? of affiliation: Describe ethical boundaries in clinical psychology and explain why they are important to the profession. Ethical boundaries refer to traditional analytic and risk management practices i.e. strict, ‘only in office,’ emotionally distant form of therapy that serves as a guideline to any clinical psychologist while in the line of work. Violation of ethical boundaries occurs when a therapist crosses the line of integrity and decency to abuse his/her power, thus exploiting a client for his/her own benefit. This may come inform of sexual relationships or even exploitative business. Other practices considered unethical unless backed by solid reasons include self-disclosure, exchange of gifts, touch, length and location of sessions, bartering and fees, and contact outside the office. With all this is obvious that Ethical boundaries work as a guideline that points out to the therapists the expected code of conduct. However, there are cases where these boundaries violations are accepted. This only happen when there is a well –constructed treatment plan that employed to increase therapeutic effectiveness (Carter, 2009). For instance, Child psychologists like many other psychologists who attend to children, usually leave the office for walks in the company of their clients and or perhaps attend school Dramas in which they take part. They also regularly provide snacks and drinks, touch and hug, exchange small gifts and photos and play cards with their young clients. Other forms of Ethical boundary violation such as dual relationship are unavoidable, particularly, with regard to many small and interdependent societies like rural, minority, military, university campus, the deaf, and church. In summary therapist should consider following ethical boundaries at all times to avoid unwarranted consequences. However, great care need to be taken as overly restrictive analytic risk-management emphasis on clearly defined, rigid, and inflexible restrictions frequently interferes with logical clinical conclusion. Instead, this judgment should be flexible and personally tailored to meet the clients' needs rather than just to appeal to therapists' fears or dogmas. The American Psychological Association (APA) has established five principles that act as a guideline to all practitioners (Barnett, 2009). First fidelity and responsibility principle, where psychologists are called upon to create respectful and trusting bonds with clients. Second, the beneficence and nonmaleficence principle requires psychologists to do every effort to benefit clients and do them no harm. With regard to the principle of integrity, psychologists need to show honesty and accuracy while reporting facts and scientific data. The next principle, which is Justice, asks the clinical psychologists to uphold individual’s right to caring, empathetic psychological care. Finally, the respect for people’s right and dignity principle implies that a psychologist should respect client’s right to privacy, confidentiality and his capacity to decide his own path. Explain the importance of self-care for professional psychologists and professional psychology students. Professional psychologist just like professional psychology students need to pay proper attention to their personal lives. This follows the idea that they are often faced with a tough puzzle of how to balance their carrier pursuit and either academics or other personal pursuit. In many cases, these two groups of persons are stressed up a factor than ends up in burn out cases. Many factors contribute to these conditions that include workload and role demands, which in many cases leave them always tired and fatigued. For instance, being a student, teacher, researcher, clinician and an administrator at the same time. The other factors are, performance anxiety and frequent evaluations by others, lack of experience, imposter syndrome, which make them feel not appreciated, peer competition, institutional demands, dealing with criticism, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, counter transference, unrealistic expectations and managing interpersonal and professional relationships (Adams, & Riggs,2008). Obviously one will get him/herself worn out with all this, and in most cases such individuals will show some of the followings signs. Feeling Fatigued or exhausted, that can take an emotional, physical, or cognitive form, or a combination of them all, withdrawal, frustration/irritability, cynicism, helpless/hopeless feeling with patients or others and to some level excessive use of drugs or alcohol. To avoid all this both the professional psychologists and their counterpart students need to take some measures, which will ensure their physical emotional and cognitive well-being. First, they should avoid overworking and instead find time to rest. In most cases, it is advisable not to exceed 35 working hours each week. Secondly, psychology students need to know and adhere to their limits. For instance, the fact that a fellow student works 90 hours comfortably should not imply that you could. Rewarding goals attained by planning fun activities will significantly help to release stress. Physical needs such as exercising regularly, maintaining regular sleep schedule, maintaining healthy diet and ensuring healthy cognitive style are also important. Emotional needs also play a part in a persons well being. For this reason, practitioners in the psychological field should, make personal connections with colleagues, consistently talk about their fears and seek personal therapy (Baird, & Kracen 2006). Finally, to cater for their social needs they will be required to value family and friends, have relationships outside of health care and keep time for themselves. Explain to prevent/avoid Personal risk factors (depression, suicidal, fear of a client committing suicide) you will utilize while completing this professional psychology program. To help prevent/avoid Personal risk factors such as depression, suicidal, fear of a client committing suicide, it is important to take all threat seriously in the first place. In this case, one should not take such people as being wrong but try to identify with their feeling. The victims of such awkward feelings may at times fail to openly say their intentions but display certain behaviors, which act as a good warning signs of their intentions. For this reason, these signs need to be taken seriously. In cases of this kind, the victims show signs of depression, which include withdrawal from others, having trouble when sleeping or eating, persistent sadness, and even losing interest in favorite activities. Showing interest or talking about death or dying is the other possible sign, which in most cases goes hand in hand with engaging in injurious or dangerous practices that includes self-injury and substance abuse. Such individuals usually utter suggestive words such as “things will be better without me,” “I can’t handle things anymore,” or even say “abnormal” goodbye to people (Gottlieb, & Younggren, 2009). When proven that there is an intention to cause self-harm, relevant persons should take such people through a proper guiding and counseling session. Other measures include, keeping weapons and medications far from people who are at risk of suicide and encouraging such people to talk about their feelings as it serves to help know them further thus making it easy to address their issues. References Adams, S. A., & Riggs, S. A. (2008). An exploratory study of vicarious trauma among therapist trainees. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 2(1), 26a€“34. Baird, K., & Kracen, A. C. (2006). Vicarious traumatization and secondary traumatic stress: A research synthesis. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 19(2), 181a€“188. Barnett, J. E. (2009). The complete practitioner: Still a work in progress. American Psychologist, 64(8), 793a€“801.Retrieved from the Walden Library using the PsycARTICLES database. Carter, J. A. (2009). Extending the frame: Managing boundaries in a culturally responsive manner. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40(5), 434-435. Gottlieb, M. C., & Younggren, J. N. (2009). Is there a slippery slope? Considerations regarding multiple relationships and risk management. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40(6), 564-571. Read More