1. #Based on the information this case study provided, Dr. Kim’s behavior of allowing hugs from his client raises potential ethical concerns. Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries is crucial in the therapeutic relationship, as it helps establish a safe and secure environment for the client.
Establishing clear boundaries serves the therapist and the client, as it helps to create an unambiguous set of ground rules upon which to build trust and guide the behavior of both the client and therapist. The thoughtful communication of boundaries can also convey the therapist’s commitment to act in the client’s best interest and assurance that they will not intentionally harm the client (Barnett, 2017).
By allowing hugs, Dr. Kim might be blurring the lines between a professional and personal relationship, which can create confusion and undermine the therapeutic process. It’s important for therapists to uphold ethical guidelines that prioritize the well-being and autonomy of their clients.
In this case, Dr. Kim’s discomfort over time indicates that he recognizes the potential issue with the repeated requests for hugs. Seeking supervision from a more experienced therapist demonstrates a responsible and ethical approach to address the situation. Supervision allows therapists to gain insights, feedback, and guidance from their peers or senior professionals, helping them navigate challenging cases effectively while prioritizing the best interests of their clients.
Question for the class: How might breaches in professional boundaries impact not only the therapeutic relationship but also the overall well-being and progress of the client?
2# In reading the case study for Unit 6, I assessed Dr. Kim’s behavior by noting he may not be comfortable with physical touch with his clients, let alone a new client. In addition, because Dr. Kim has been practicing for so long, it may be a boundary issue for him. “(There was increased recognition that some boundary crossings, such as therapist self-disclosure and nonsexual touch, can be clinically valuable. Topics such as appropriate therapeutic boundaries, potential conflicts of interest, and ethical and effective ways of managing multiple relationships were addressed in some ethics codes (Corey, 2019).” Nowhere in the code of ethics states that you cannot hug your client. “None of the ethics boards that regulate mental health professionals specifically prohibit the use of touch or view it as unethical. There are times when your therapist may believe that it’s more harmful to you not to initiate a hug. In some cases, nonsexual, therapeutic touch may be beneficial (Karin et al., 2021).” I think a potential ethical issue could be that the client starts to like the therapist, or the client could misinterpret the hug the wrong way and report the therapist, although the client wanted a hug.
Question: Do you think this case study has a lot to do with boundaries?
