How did Angelina set boundaries with her clients?

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.


Because Angelina was aware of the dual relationships in the different organizations, she explicitly discussed boundary issues with her clients, particularly at the contracting phase of the relationship. She explained that the way she related to her clients at work might be different than how she related at church or in her neighborhood. When clients approached her at church to discuss their needs and issues at IMH, she carefully reminded them that while they were at church they were fellow congregants and encouraged them to reserve talking about agency-related needs for IMH. Nevertheless, issues in their low-income neighborhood were not always so clear cut.

Social Work & Human Services

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