The Continuum of Professional Behavior

1. The Continuum of Professional Behavior Under-Involvement ZONE OF HELPFULNESS Over-Involvement Mental Health Association

2. The ZONE OF HELPFULNESS This is the center of the Professional Continuum of Behavior. It is where most professional interactions should occur. Zone of Helpfulness Under-Involvement Over-Involvement Mental Health Association

3. Examples of Over-Involvement • Boundary crossings • Personal disclosure • Favoritism • Possessiveness • Boundary violations • Professional sexual misconduct • Abuse Mental Health Association

4. The Slippery Slope • Typically violations are proceeded by boundary drifts (fantasy or thought). • Progress to crossing boundaries. • Progress to violations that could • interfere with the care plan • harm the participant • harm the professional • result in disciplinary or legal actions. Mental Health Association

5. Working in Open Space • Conversations • Arguments • Behaviors All Are Visible Mental Health Association

6. Unexpected Catalysts • Divorce • Death • Career change • Periods of stress, loss, trauma • Provocative participants • Need to be “liked” and gain approval • Need to solve everyone’s problems • Limited interests, home and family life Mental Health Association

7. Warning Signs • Disclosing personal problems. • Sharing work concerns with participant. • Role reversal. • Dressing differently. • Noticing more physical touching than is appropriate or required. • Thinking about the participant frequently away from work. • Spending off time with a participant. Mental Health Association

8. Warning Signs • Giving home/cell phone and address. • Giving/receiving gifts. • Continued contact/communication after discharge from your assignment. • Needs of the caregiver are being met over the needs of the participant. Mental Health Association

9. Protections • Accountability decreases professional violations—talk to your supervisor. • Develop satisfying pursuits outside of work. • Maintain personal relationships that meet your need for friendship, acceptance, and intimacy. Mental Health Association

10. Practice Self-Awareness • Be aware of your thoughts and feelings. • Observe your behavior and the behavior of other professionals. • Always act in the best interest of the participant. • Seek supervisory support. Mental Health Association

11. Ask Yourself. . . • Can this be documented in the file? • Is my supervisor aware of it? • Am I willing to do this for all participants? • Would this be allowed in another setting? • How does this activity relate to the participant’s needs? • Whose needs are being fulfilled? Mental Health Association

12. Practice • Sara hands you a box of cookies she bought from the bakery. • You give Janie a rose for her birthday. • Sam frequently goes out for coffee after his shift with one of the program participants. Mental Health Association

13. Practice • Sally is discussing her complicated, pending divorce to one of her co-workers in the common area. • You contract with a program participant to do some minor home repairs. • Hearing that Mr. S. was evicted from his apartment today, and has no family in town, you invite him to stay in your home until he finds other arrangements since you have plenty of empty rooms and would like the company. Mental Health Association

14. When Others Cross the Line • Act quickly to avoid harm. • Determine if the participant’s safety is in jeopardy. • Consult the appropriate supervisor. • Follow your company’s policies and procedures. Mental Health Association

15. Everybody talks about wanting to change things and help and fix, but ultimately all you can do is fix yourself. And that's a lot. Because if you can fix yourself, it has a ripple effect. Rob Reiner

16. Reference All information was based on: Identification and Implication of Professional Boundaries created by ESRD Network of New England “Another Educational Day and Time Out for Technicians” Doris Briggs, RN, BSN April 2009 Mental Health Association