Carlos is working with a woman whose father is the president of a large bank in another city. She has become depressed and needs a referral to a therapist and perhaps a psychiatric assessment. Carlos is reluctant to talk to her about needing “psychiatric help” because he assumes this would be offensive to someone as “upper class” as she is. Instead, he suggests she “talk to someone for a little bit.” Later, with the woman’s permission, her father contacts Carlos and asks if there is anything he can do. Carlos is careful not to suggest short-term psychiatric hospitalization even though the father is offering to pay “for whatever she needs.” Carlos is sure such a hospitalization would alienate the father.
Above are some situations in which the boundary between the worker and the client has become blurred. Identify what went wrong and what needs to happen to correct the situation. Use the space provided to make notes.
