Why I Say “No” to a Client’s Invitation to a Personal Event JODI CRANE, PHD, NCC, LPCC-S, RPT-S
I would not say “Yes” to a client’s invitation to a personal event for several reasons, many of which revolve around my values of authenticity and integrity, fairness and equality, and self-care.
Any personal event to which a client would invite me is something his or her friends and family would likely nd. Et
these roles, even if the client views me as such. Boundaries begin to blur. Saying yes means ushering in a change in what is supposed to be a professional relationship. How does the client then view me, the therapeutic relationship, and the therapeutic process if I were to attend the event?
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I live and work in a rural area, and some people know of my professional work. Were I to attend a clientt’’s event, there is the possibility a participant might assume Iassume I am the client’s therapist. In
a rural area know o
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addition, an attendee may ask how I know the client. If the client or the client’s legal guardian does not give me permission to share that I am the client’s play therapist, how do I answer that question? For me, making something up feels disingenuous. If the client or the client’s legal guardian does give me permission to share my role, then others who do not understand professional boundaries may think they can
may ask how I know the client. If the client or guardian does not give me permission to share that I a therapist how do I answer that question? Forme,
HiHis words can be adapted to this situation. “Thank you for thinking of me. I appreciate the invitation. You would enjoy having me there, but I am not able to attend. I will think of you on that day.”
s wor s can be adapted t
a pla therapist can de in this situation. “
relationships that would not reasonably be expected to cause impairment
on the therapeutic relationship. If the therapeutic relationship would be bolstered by attendance and would not jeopardize the therapist’s objectivity, s/he may choose to attend.
privacy, including the fact that the person is a present or former client public events allow play therapists to maintain a level of anonymity that
(where other attendees may ask about the therapist’s connection to is appropriate, play therapists must evaluate the impact of their
Making a Decision The following questions can help play therapists make an informed, ethical decision: • Will attending disrupt the therapeutic relationship in any way? • Will attending impair my therapeutic objectivity or effectiveness? • Will attending serve the client’s therapeutic interests or needs?
Based on their responses, it may or may not be appropriate for play therapists to attend. Their decision should be discussed with the client and documented to avoid any misunderstandings.
www.a4pt.org | June 2019 | PLAYTHERAPY | 29
Landreth (2012) provided an example of how a play therapist can decline a gift from a client.
La h (201 prov
ething his o her friends and famil would lik attend. Ethically, as
COUNTER POINT
ask questions about the client’s treatment. This behavior leads to my needing to set limits with others who may be strangers.
If I were to say “Yes” to a client, I would feel the need to say yes to many or all such requests from my clients. If I say yes to some and not to others, am I playing favoriittes? Am I being fair?
not t others, amI playing fa es I bein
I cannot predict how much of my personal time would be involved in attending an event. Saying yes might mean I feel resentful for spending my free, unpaid time in this way. Attending an event might blur the lines between my work and my personal life.
I cannot pre ict how much o my ed in at
nding
might m ending
in this wa might blu work and
Personally, I am an introvert who loves people. I get paid to put on my “extrovert” hat in my professional work with clients, students, and supervisees in group supervision. I value my free time to recharge. Attending a client’s personal event might mean engaging in small talk, which tends to drain my energy.
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