Boundaries and Physical Touch in Counselling

Counselling always involves decisions and/or challenges to do with boundaries and making clear
boundaries can help to make therapy a safer place. When considering the area of touch, within a
therapeutic relationship, the responsibility lies with the counsellor to continually be aware of what is
appropriate and what is inappropriate.
Definition of a Boundary:
A boundary is an edge or limit that defines a person as separate from others (Katherine) and is the
framework within which the therapist/client relationship occurs.
Counsellors are expected to monitor the boundaries in their relationships with clients and the way
the therapist manages these boundaries can act as a model, providing important value for those who
have inappropriate boundaries. After all, adult boundary problems are actually old boundary
problems that have been there since childhood. (Cloud and Townsend 1992 p.130).
Sometimes difficulties arise if a client challenges boundaries. This may include challenges to the
alliance because of difficulty with trust and intimacy, hypersensitivity to implications of criticism or
rejection and difficulties in distinguishing sexual from other intimate feelings (Pearlman and
Saakvitne 1995).
What About the use of Physical Touch in Therapy?

There are numerous ways of using touch to communicate understanding and empathy, such as
holding a client's hand or giving them a hug. Such actions can, however, also be interpreted as
sexual or inappropriate which necessitates the use of careful and sound professional judgment when
using such gestures for therapeutic reasons.
Guidelines exist with regard to physical touch between client and therapist, ensuring client safety
(Ethical Framework 2002). Guidelines to do with touch, however, are not clear-cut matters of right
and wrong. Rather, they are dependent upon many factors and require careful thinking through all
issues, always keeping in mind the best interests of the client. However, when working with adult
survivors of sexual abuse, for example, appropriate touch may indicate that a positive rapport
incorporating trust and safety has been established. Similarly, the ability to be tactile could be an
indication of healing (Argyle 1983). For these reasons, rejecting such a gesture initiated by the
client, based on ethical grounds, could be counter-therapeutic.
Furthermore, an individuals inclination to engage in physical contact is influenced by the persons
culture. In a number of cultures, touch is a way of demonstrating affection, the formation of a
connection and positive feeling toward another person (Lago and Thompson 1996). Therefore, the
clients gesture also is a manifestation of culturally appropriate behaviour and must be understood in
this context.
It is important to specify, however, that client-therapist physical contact should be non-sexual, that
the therapist be vigilant and avoid transgressing boundaries under the guise of being therapeutic,
and that careful consideration be given before engaging in any tactile contact with a client (Syme
2003). The use of supervision, by the counsellor, is essential to ensure that appropriate behaviour
and monitoring of these issues occurs.
Sources:Argyle, M. (1983) The Psychology of Interpersonal Behaviour, 4th Edition. London:
Penguin.Cloud, H and Townsend, J (1992) Boundaries. When to say Yes - When to say No - To take
control of your life. Michigan: Zondervan.Ethical Framework For Good Practice in Counselling and
Psychotherapy. (2002) Revised Edition. Published by British Association for Counselling and
Psychotherapy. Pages 3 9.Katherine, A (2000) Where to draw the line. How to set healthy boundaries
every day. Simon and Shuster. (New York) Page 16.Lago, C. and Thompson, J. (1996) Race, Culture
and Counselling. Buckingham: Open University Press.Pearlman, L. and Saakvitne K. (1995). Trauma
and the therapist: Countertransference and vicarious traumatization in psychotherapy with incest
survivors. New York: Norton and Company.Syme, G (2003) Dual Relationships in Counselling and
Psychotherapy. London: Sage PublicationsYou may also be interested to read about issues to do with
Case Management in Counselling
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