Types of Boundaries

Boundaries in Your Workplace

Physical contact can be very personal and is not something everyone is comfortable with.
People who have experienced trauma may have a need for a larger physical space around them.
It is important to avoid misunderstandings that come from physical contact such as touching, hugging, etc.

Relates to giving, lending, and accepting material items and/or money.
Creates a dual relationship in which something is expected of the other person.
Creates confusion about the role of staff because this is not something that can be offered to all patrons.
Issues arise if money is not paid back or items are not returned.

Relates to ‘who you are as a person’ and how open you are about yourself.
People often connect through personal stories and shared experiences.
We need to be careful what we are sharing, how the information is used, and the effect that sharing can have on the patron.
Remember that information shared with one patron can often be shared with others.
Ask ourselves ‘why am I sharing this?’
People can be re-traumatized by hearing other people’s stories or can ‘take on’ the emotional pain of others very easily.
Be aware of how our own emotions are impacted by working with people and when we might be taking on too much and need to get support for ourselves.

It is important to consider both physical and emotional boundaries.
People often believe they need to talk about their trauma in order to work through it.
A lot of work must be done in order to create the space and therapeutic relationship necessary to safely work through trauma.
It is important to understand our limitations and recognize that we are not qualified to deal with trauma.
Talking about trauma can be dangerous for both the patron and ourselves.
Hearing about someone else’s trauma can trigger our own responses.
If someone starts talking about their trauma:
- Try not to encourage them to keep talking by asking questions.
- It is okay to slow them down by acknowledging what they have gone through and letting them know you want them to be able to safely talk about it.
- Offer to refer them to someone who can get them connected to formal counselling (See Module Eight).
- Take care of yourself by monitoring your own internal responses and debriefing after with other staff or your supervisor.