Managing professional boundaries with consumers in forensic mental health

It is widely recognised that clear and consistent therapeutic boundaries are integral to good clinical care, supporting recovery and maintaining a safe and therapeutic relationship. There are specific considerations and challenges in relation to therapeutic boundaries in forensic mental health settings, where there is a need for clinicians to navigate the inherent tension between provision of care and the management of risk (sometimes referred to as the care-control continuum).  This workshop will introduce participants to the Boundary Seesaw Model (Hamilton, 2010), which is a pantheoretical model of therapeutic boundaries developed for use within forensic and correctional settings.   

This workshop has been specifically designed for staff working with consumers in forensic settings to reflect on their knowledge and skills regarding professional boundary management. Through reflective and experiential exercises, the workshop aims to enhance participant ability to identify and maintain professional and workplace boundaries, and to openly reflect on the potential benefit or harm caused by boundary changes.  Key learning outcomes include:

- Increase knowledge and capacity for meaningful boundary conversations

- Confirm existing knowledge of boundary non-negotiables

- Increase knowledge and skills to use tools to support boundary decision making

- Increase knowledge of boundary change processes & strategies to aid proportional responses

This full-day training is suitable for clinicians & professional staff working in forensic settings, as well as mental health clinicians working with forensic consumers. If you have questions about your suitability for this workshop, please contact FMHPDP@swin.edu.au

The workshop will be facilitated by Dr Kate McGregor – Psychology Educator (Professional Development & Training), Forensicare, and Susie Hancox– Coordinator, Youth Justice Mental Health Initiative, Forensicare.