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December 23, 2005

Holding Boundaries

What do you do when you have a client who schedules an appointment but calls to cancel right before the session starts? Or what if a client schedules an hour-long session but arrives late and expects you to discount the session? What if they schedule a half hour session and when you announce that time is up they ask you to work on just one more thing?

These issues and more are some of the difficulties we have concerning boundaries. Establishing and holding boundaries are some of the most difficult interpersonal issue we have, not only as therapists, but as people. Help with these issue can be found in Nina McIntosh's The Educated Heart: Professional Guidelines for Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers and Movement Teachers. It is important to remember when enforcing boundaries to do so with kindness and compassion.

Other books that may be helpful:
Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud, Dr. John Townsend
Boundaries with Kids by Dr. Henry Cloud, Dr. John Townsend

Posted by linda at December 23, 2005 9:00 AM