Lesson 5: Professionalism - Communication, Boundaries, and Self-care


Attention


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Practice effective communication skills.
  • Apply concepts of professional boundary management.
  • Apply concepts of professional self-care management.

Teaching

Professionalism

Many of you are coming into this field with a lot of skills. Many of you have been helping others for a long time and you are likely pretty good at reading people and talking with them about their problems...that is why some of you were attracted to this field.

While these skills are an excellent foundation on which to build, the goal of this program is to turn you into a PROFESSIONAL!

So, what makes a professional? I'm gong to take a stab at this one!

"A professional is a person who is able to demonstrate evidence-based skills informed by real-world experience while maintaining excellent communication skills, personal and professional boundaries, and self-care."

You came here with some skills and experience. The courses in this program will sharpen those skills and provide you with more and more experiences. This lesson will focus on the last three items: Communication, Boundaries, and Self-care!

Communication

This lesson, it is really about communicating and who to communicate with when you have a specific kind of problem or question. Our organizational policies provide for lines of authority and communication to help facilitate your solution. It might seem like a bit of a "run around" sometimes but in order to get the best answer for your question, we often have to find out who might have that answer.

Key individuals that you need to communicate with include fellow students, your professor (Faculty), the Chair of that faculty's department, and ultimately the Academic Dean.

Talking to Fellow Students

One of the best ways to communicate with everyone is to go by the "Golden Rule"...a paraphrased version of this would be...

"Communicate with others as you would have them communicate with you."

One of the most valuable sources of information and knowledge available to you in your classes resides in your fellow students. People come to this program from a wide diversity of backgrounds and experiences. I am always amazed at how much I learn from the students that I teach. This information is invaluable.

Being a student in this program is not a race and it is not competitive. There are not a set number of good grades that are given that you have to compete for. So, it is very important to treat your fellow students with respect and care.

Many of your peers have come from complex backgrounds themselves. This makes them strong but it challenges all of us to be mindful of how we say things. Our goal is to make our classroom a safe place to express ideas and explore some of the most challenging life situations.

At all times you must endeavor to:

  • Treat each other with dignity and respect.
  • Do NOT share stories outside of class.
  • Do NOT talk behind others' back.
  • Do NOT spread rumors.
  • Understand that you NEVER really walk in another's shoes, everyone in this program has barriers they are overcoming simply to be in the class. Treat everyone with respect.
Talking to Faculty

If you are having any problem with your classes...such as not understanding the material, struggling with getting an assignment done, you will be missing class, or even if you are having problems with the teaching itself...your FIRST contact needs to be with the teacher!

Although it might seem that some teachers are more "approachable" than others you need to understand something. Teachers are under pressure to be FAIR to all their students...and some of them are teaching material that is difficult for some students to understand. This sometimes leads us to set strict guidelines and expectations for the work...and these often come across as absolute and immovable, and we might even make ourselves look mean and "unapproachable".

Don't believe it!

Although we sometimes need to stick to our policies, we are all interested in your success and in hearing about your challenges. We want to help you make the changes you need to be successful. Remember, each of your teachers, at one time, was where you are right now...and we got "good" at this "going to school" thing! We have great ideas, great advice, and great guidance.

Faculty are, by and large, friendly people. Some will even joke around in class. Despite this "friendly" behavior it is always important, at the end of the day, to treat them professionally.

Talking to Department Chairs

Department Chairs are in charge of all the teachers and courses and policies within a specific Department. Sometimes a program and a Department are the same thing (such as in Nursing)...at other times, Department Chairs are in charge of a number of Programs.

Either way, if you have not been able to resolve your issue with the teacher, your next step is to contact the Department Chair for your teacher's department.

When you are doing this, be respectful of their expertise and their time. These folks are seasoned professionals, respected, and very busy people! Call, make an appointment, and be prepared with your thoughts and any materials to state your case or discuss your issue. The Department Chairs really know what is going on at KVCC and they have the power to intervene or explain a situation from a different perspective.

Talking to the Academic Dean

At the top of the heap in the Academic parts of KVCC is the Academic Dean. This person basically run the whole academic show. The job is largely administrative and they are there to create and enforce policy at KVCC. This person is also the one who can agree to "set aside" a policy because of a special situation.

Faculty and Chairs can "set aside" policy sometimes too, but some policies are very rigid. After you have gone to the Faculty and to the Chair, if you still need more help, the next stop is the Academic Dean

Boundaries

You will hear a lot about "boundaries" in this field. Boundaries define the limits of something, very much the way property lines define what is MY land and what is YOUR land.

Here are some examples:

  • Job Descriptions
    • Job descriptions lay out the terms of what is YOUR job and what is NOT YOUR job. Practicing within the scope of your job (and agency policies) is an example of boundaries.
  • Ethical Boundaries
    • These boundaries have to do with our jobs as well. Our ethical standards help define what we think is "right" and "wrong" and what we are willing to do and NOT willing to do. Issues having to do with dual relationships, falsifying records, and stealing are ethical boundaries.
  • Emotional Boundaries
    • This is the one that can get tricky! We care about people! We don't like to see them get hurt or fail. While being "kind and respectful" we have to maintain a certain degree of professional distance from our clients. If we get too "caught up" in "rescuing them" then we do a lot of damage. YES, DAMAGE...we can take someone's will power away...and within reason, we can keep them from some of their most profound learning moments...FAILURE!
Understand What Professional Boundaries Are

  • In a professional relationship, you can be friendly with your client, but you cannot be your client's friend
  • As a human service worker you are responsible for modeling healthy boundaries for your client. For example, when you inform the client from the first session that your relationship will not go beyond the therapy or case work assistance you provide, the client will be less likely to expect or attempt to have a nonprofessional relationship with you
  • You should be clear on your limits as a provider. Boundaries are set to keep you focused on the work you are doing with the client. Without boundaries, you may overstep your duties of providing counseling and support to offering money or personal advice to your client
Identify Poor Boundaries

Examples of poor boundaries

  • You and your client call each other friends and interact outside of the facility where you work
  • Valuable gifts are exchanged between you and the client
  • You reveal personal information that is not relevant to your client's case
  • You find yourself discussing the client and his or her case during social interactions with your family and friends
  • You are having discussions with the client about other staff members at the facility
  • You find yourself offering your client assistance with transportation or directly helping him or her with moving or babysitting, etc
Know the Consequences of Poor Boundaries

  • Without professional relationship boundaries you may not provide appropriate services to your client. If you are acting as the client's friend, and not his or her provider, you may not challenge the client to deal with presenting problems or terminate services when it is appropriate
  • Talking to your client about other staff members could lead to "splitting." Splitting occurs when a client says negative things to different members of a staff that eventually pits them against each other
  • Failure to set professional boundaries can cause you to burn out from caring for your client beyond what is required of a professional relationship. You can have too much compassion for the client that will make it difficult for you to provide the objectivity your client needs
  • If you do not maintain professional boundaries, you may find yourself acting in an unethical manner, such as becoming sexually involved with the client
Create Strong Professional Boundaries

  • Explain your role as provider and the limits of your availability to the client outside of office hours at the beginning of the relationship. Make it clear that the client will only be able to contact you at the facility and that your personal life (outside of the relevant information you volunteer) is not up for discussion
  • Make sure that any personal information you reveal (called self-disclosure) is helpful to the client's case. For example, if the client is homeless, it is appropriate to talk about your history of homelessness and the resources you used to change your life. You are making the session about you if you discuss parts of your personal life that are not relevant to the client
  • When a client crosses the professional boundaries, redirect them by immediately clarifying your role and the limits of your relationship with the client
  • Avoid having a dual relationship with a client. A dual relationship occurs when you have a therapeutic relationship with a client and you have some form of interaction with him or her outside of the facility. For example, you may be providing therapy to a client and then discover you both attend the same church. Your options could be to assign the client to another social worker or to change the time you attend church services to avoid interacting with the client
  • Discuss boundary issues with your supervisor, colleagues or your own therapist

Self-Care

It may sound cliche, but if YOU are not healthy, you will be LESS EFFECTIVE in HELPING others. That is a fact.

Here are some steps to promote good self-care! Each word in red is a link to a resource. Please visit each source and skim the resource for future reference.

1. Keep your body in balance - eat a healthy diet, stay active, and get adequate rest

2. Manage your emotions - know your coping habits, reduce stress, and get mindful

3. Flourish in work and school - manage your time, get organized, and prevent burnout

4. Enjoy your relationships - your family and friends are there to support you

5. Be creative or spiritual - don't lose sight of the things that feed your soul


Assessment

Lesson 5 Quiz

Please answer all of the questions in this quiz. They relate to the Lesson and any links within the Lesson.

Lesson 5 Discussion

In this lesson we focus on three areas of professionalism: communication, boundaries, and self-care. Share a story (it does not have to be your own) that demonstrates NON-professionalism. What would you do different or what should that person have done differently? Remember, professionalism is a goal to which we all strive, we are not perfect and we make mistakes. The important thing is that we can learn from these mistakes.