DQ 2.1 Post 5
Thank you for posting an interesting question, “
how can a therapist balance the need to be authentic and genuine with clients while maintaining these professional boundaries and avoiding giving personal opinions even when requested to do so by the client?”
A therapist can be authentic and genuine with clients through respectful conversations and questions, along with the use of nonverbal communication such as body language, gestures, tone of voice, eye contact, physical proximity, and other nonverbal cues to convey the message of interest. Regarding giving personal opinions when requested by the client, it would be ideal to ask the client why it is important for them to know. This will lead to further discussion and an understanding of the client’s underlying concern. An example that comes to mind, are counsellors being asked about their religion. One of the possible reasons for a client to ask about a counsellor’s religious background is to assess if there will be conflict, prejudice, or stigma that may affect the client-therapist relationship. I thought Slay-Westbrook’s (2017) response was perfect when responding to a client who questioned her credibility and religious affiliation, “I understood the Gospel to say that I was to love and accept everyone without judgment and that I strived to live up to that without fail.”
Are there other ways a therapist can maintain professional boundaries and avoid providing personal information without offending the clients? Reference
Slay-Westbrook, S. (2017).
Respect-Focused Therapy: Honoring clients through the therapeutic relationship and process.
Routledge
