Should Angelina change to a different church? A different workplace? Live in a different community?

Question

Social worker Angelina Pettit enjoyed practicing in a faith-based agency, where she found deep personal meaning in her work with clients. However, the work was complicated by the agencyís integral connections with her church. Her husband, Philip, a group leader in their church, invited Jacob and Raymond, two single men in his group and the church who were also Angelinaís clients, to their home for Christmas dinner. Angelina generally felt successful in managing her dual relationships, but it seemed this situation was hitting ìtoo close to home.î Their coming to dinner could challenge her sense of professionalism regarding dual relationships. But, she felt compelled to follow her faith and belief that individuals should not be alone during the Christmas season, and that celebrating community and being loved within the church family was important.

Answer 1

Angelina and Philip both find IMH and CUS a wonderful place to work and volunteer. In particular, Angelina enjoys practicing social work in a faith-based agency, where she can connect faith to the holistic healing process in a community setting. As a professional, Angelina must decide whether she can continue to manage dual relationships successfully while interacting in the three overlapping environments. Thus far, Angelina believed that she had not harmed or exploited her clients when relating to them. She may not need to change her present situation, but it might be beneficial for her to meet with other social workers or colleagues and discuss her experiences.
Angelina could avoid many dual relationships if she attended a different church, worked at a different workplace, or lived in a different neighborhood. Never can a practitioner avoid all possible dual relationships. But Angelina had chosen to enmesh herself in multiple relationships that cross all three milieus. As a person who cared for people addicted to drugs and alcohol, families in poverty, and people who are homeless, Angelina believed that what she was doing was helping not only the individual clients, but also the two organizations and the broader community. Few social workers would choose such a difficult and taxing task. As a professional, Angelina must be self-critical, identify her strengths and weaknesses, and strive to practice ethically in all situations.