At Personal Risk: Boundary Violations in Professional-Client Relationships

Rating:
Summary: Excellent discussion of fiduciary relationships and abuses
Review: Marilyn Peterson's book "At Personal Risk Boundary Violations in Professional-Client Relationships" offers a concise report on the professional-client relationship highlighting the "ethos of care" involved in the relationship professionals have with the clients they help.

Ms. Peterson gives many examples of harm caused to clients when the boundary of this trust based relationship is breached. She has a particularly good discussion of the power differential involved in the professional-client relationship and how denial of the power and influence which reside with the professional can lead to boundary violations. She discusses four often hidden aspects involved in boundary violations: role reversals; secrets; double binds and indulgence of personal priviledge.

Her discussion of the tensions that professionals must hold and work within show a keen understanding and insight into the responsibilities and risks of professional fiduciary work.

She summarizes the psychological wounds to victims and offers suggestions for healing.

Having read many books on the topic of professional boundaries and their abuses, I have found this book to be one of the best. Ms. Peterson writes in a clear, straight-forward manner and provides valuable discussion and thought provoking insight without psychobable jargon.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent discussion of fiduciary relationships and abuses
Review: Marilyn Peterson's book "At Personal Risk Boundary Violations in Professional-Client Relationships" offers a concise report on the professional-client relationship highlighting the "ethos of care" involved in the relationship professionals have with the clients they help.

Ms. Peterson gives many examples of harm caused to clients when the boundary of this trust based relationship is breached. She has a particularly good discussion of the power differential involved in the professional-client relationship and how denial of the power and influence which reside with the professional can lead to boundary violations. She discusses four often hidden aspects involved in boundary violations: role reversals; secrets; double binds and indulgence of personal priviledge.

Her discussion of the tensions that professionals must hold and work within show a keen understanding and insight into the responsibilities and risks of professional fiduciary work.

She summarizes the psychological wounds to victims and offers suggestions for healing.

Having read many books on the topic of professional boundaries and their abuses, I have found this book to be one of the best. Ms. Peterson writes in a clear, straight-forward manner and provides valuable discussion and thought provoking insight without psychobable jargon.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read For Helpers...
Review: Peterson's book is a treatise on the issue of boundaries and ethics in the helper/client relationship. She gives excellent examples of the ways clients have been hurt by professionals who don't have clear boundaries. The range of professions include medicine, education, law, religion, and counselling. I too found her discussion of boundary violations highly enlightening. She is extremely clear in describing what a boundary violation is, and how to deal with them when they occur. Clients who have been on the receiving end of boundary violations and abuses of professional power are likely to find her empathetic and insightful. The book is highly readable and thought provoking. I believe this book should be required reading for teachers, doctors, counsellors, lawyers, and others in the helping professions.