February 27, 2013

Boundaries in the Workplace

From when I first started training as a social worker, all the way to now, I've always had a pull towards the importance of boundaries in my work, whether I mean in helping people with them, or working on them myself. As a social worker, boundaries are hugely important in so many ways. We work with people whose lives are in shambles sometimes and we can't own that in any major way, or we're screwed. We're asked to do more than we can handle and if we give in a little, again, we're screwed. We have an obligation to have an awareness of our boundaries, as well as our boundary issues, IMO.

I can't say the amount of times this has been a focus on my therapy with someone else, but for myself, it's an ongoing issue. Sometimes the boundary issues are very clear. Someone is rude and annoying and you set the boundary that you want them to retrain from speaking to you like that. Simple (haha, really?). Others are not so easy. For example, when someone is rude, they're rarely rude to just one person, right? So say I set my boundaries with this person, but my friend and co-worker, Fred, doesn't. My day after day, my friend is annoyed and offended by this person and who do they talk to about their annoyance? Their friend (me), of course. That is just simply a more difficult boundary to set, in my experience.

However, it must be done. Sigh.



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15 comments:

spldbch said...

When you think about boundaries as a social worker, you don't immediately think about boundaries with co-workers. However, you make a good point; they need to be established.

Anonymous said...

More self rightious psyco babble from an overpaid over qualified profession . I personally left social work to be able help people .

Today social work , particularly children's services , is a matter of class warfare ie middle class or wanna be middle class social workers stealing the children of working class families or providing shit services for older people etc

Nick

Social Worker Job Guide said...

Hi, Anti-Social Worker!

This line stuck with me: "For example, when someone is rude, they're rarely rude to just one person, right? So say I set my boundaries with this person, but my friend and co-worker, Fred, doesn't." This is one of those cornerstones of the therapeutic relationship, in that the way the client reacts with the therapist is the way s/he reacts to the world. I think your friend Fred (and I'm sure he's a great social worker!) is doing his client a disservice by not calling out rude behavior. That's probably one of the reasons the client is in therapy in the first place!

So, I'm with you---boundaries are IMPORTANT.

Kara T. said...

As a Freshman year Social Work major, I am already becoming aware to the boundaries needed in this profession. I know that Social Work is the major for me because I have an incredible amount of passion towards it, however that does not mean it will be easy. I am a very compassionate individual and I will need to learn boundaries and how to not make my client's problems, my problems. Your line "We work with people whose lives are in shambles sometimes and we can't own that in any major way, or we're screwed" makes so much sense to me. Yes we are working with people who need help, but we need to be careful to not let their personal issues seep through into our personal lives. I believe, from the bottom of my heart, that this is the most difficult part of the profession. Nevertheless, I can't wait for the future.

Jessica said...

I definitely am relating to this particular post. I work in a domestic violence shelter and a major problem we have is with residents "staff splitting" where they will align with one staff member and almost pit them against each other. For instance, one resident will tell me "Well, Jen let's me smoke outside after curfew" and it is up to me to maintain my boundary and the rules of our program, otherwise it will totally come back to slap me in the face when they come up to me at my next shift and push the boundary a little more or more residents come to expect the same. It is very difficult- and very frustrating- to work hard to maintain boundaries when other co-workers do not and in the end, it really serves to no one's benefit. Great post.

tmartinez said...

I am currently a college student and I am started to make a more precise career path and the social work field is something that I really attracts me, even though I know it will not be easy. Thank you for sharing, this brings new insight to the social work field.

Unknown said...

I think social work is one of those professions where an invisible boundary may be difficult to establish since it involves going deep into the roots of someone's problems. I think its about becoming more understanding of other human beings and their feelings. Anyways I also came across this article to motivate aspiring social workers: http://www.gradschools.com/search-programs/social-work-msw/social-worker-salary

Unknown said...

It's quite distressing that we the people who get mired in our work inevitably faces a choice between establishing and not establishing boundaries.

Unknown said...

Thank you so much because while for many people this may seem like a very simple post, it is hugely important... and boundaries are something you can let slip over time... until you are so bogged down with responsibility that is not yours and overwhelemed by people thinking that you are there to do what they tell you to do... it gets to a point where you DO feel responsible for all of it.

stephanie winkleman said...

This is so beautiful...I will never forget it and I will never look at the moon the same way again....Thank you!

Anonymous said...

is this blog no longer active?

antiSWer said...

Well, there haven't been many posts, but I still monitor comments. There are some ideas I'd like to post about soon...

Anonymous said...

I am a male social worker and work in Child welfare in Canada. I put a male social worker in the beginning because in my mind, being a male social worker I provide my clients with lots of soft spots. My clients are predominantly females and have gone through abusive relationship. I feel sometimes they see soft spots and take advantage on it. They push their boundaries and became very rude and inappropraite. I often put up with it because I hope they realize something....More and more I am not making any sense. And thesedays, I see the importance of boundary for doing my work more productively. I hesitantly agree with the point of disservicing clients for not being assertive about them pushing boundaries. I just have not been able to prove that's the case....

antiSWer said...

I can definitely see how male social workers might have some of these issues projected on them. What a great opportunity to provide people insight into what they are putting out into the world and showing them what a healthy relationship could be. By upholding your boundaries, you can show them the way to healthier relationships.

Annewow said...

I really appreciate your blog. You have such a great way of writing. and addressing issues that i feel is sometimes uncomfortable for others. I am an intern in a therapist office and i see this kind of thing often. Between studying all the time (http://www.amandarowanlcsw.com/exam-coaching/) and my job i personally dont have time for a relationship however i feel this is important personally and professionally. thanks for the post!

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