Professional Boundaries Boundaries define the appropriate degree of intimacy between refugee clients and staff. The key is to maintain appropriate distance between a professional relationship and a personal relationship. As social service professionals, it is our responsibility to maintain appropriate degree of professionalism in our interactions with clients. Are these OK? Hugging a client Loaning a client money Having a meal with a client and his/her family Hanging out with a client socially Asking a client to go on a date (what about if the client asks you?) Figure 1: Two men shaking hands . Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/seal-handshake-man-men-face-326159/

Hugging a client Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace? Figure 1: Two men hugging. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/hugs-friendship-business-men-2817748/ Hugging a client

Loaning a client money Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace? Figure 1: Two hands exchanging money. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/11/11/15/15/money-1038723_960_720.jpg Loaning a client money

Having a meal with a client and his family Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace? 3. Having a meal with a client and his/her family Figure 1: Family having dinner. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/family-eating-at-the-table-dining-619142/ Having a meal with a client and his family

Hanging out with a client socially Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace? 4. Hanging out with a client socially Figure 1: Friends having coffee. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/coffee-hot-drink-espresso-cup-2565441/ Hanging out with a client socially

Asking for or accepting a date with a client Is this acceptable behavior at the workplace? 5. Asking a client to go on a date (what about if the client asks you?) You are not maintaining professional boundaries when: You use the relationship with the refugee client for your own needs, i.e., social/emotional, financial, or sexual. You make unnecessary intrusions into the refugee client’s life, i.e., interactions outside of the prescribed professional settings such as the office, home visits, or escorted appointments. Asking for or accepting a date with a client

Sharing a cigarette with a client Figure 1: A hand holding a cigarette. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/cigarette-smoking-smoke-hand-dark-2410715/ Sharing a cigarette with a client

Giving money to a client Figure 1: Two hands exchanging money. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/11/11/15/15/money-1038723_960_720.jpg Giving money to a client

Sexual involvement with a client or a client’s family member

Abusive behavior towards a client Figure 1: A figure yelling at another figure. Adapted from Pixabay. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/stick-people-shouting-yelling-2324012/ Abusive behavior towards a client

Exploitation of a client