Professional Boundary Training
Preserving professional boundaries in the workplace is easier said than done. Relationship dynamics with patients, co-workers, colleagues, and social acquaintances can become compromised depending upon the context in which these relationships occur. Individual vulnerabilities, misperceptions, "good intentions", and the culture of one’s workplace can contribute to lapses in maintaining appropriate boundaries.
While these challenges can help to explain boundary problems, they do not excuse professional boundary transgressions. Licensed professionals are held to boundary standards that exceed all other professions.
Our professional training/coaching program is a highly individualized, thought provoking process aimed at helping physicians to not only change their behavior but also their perceptions of themselves and others.
This program is for individuals who are having difficulties maintaining appropriate professional, interpersonal and/or prescribing boundaries. This program is not a primary intervention for those who have engaged in sexual relations with patients. Licensed professionals who have engaged in sexual relations with patients typically require a comprehensive assessment and treatment process.
The boundary training/coaching program at Acumen Institute addresses the challenges mentioned above by helping each participant:
- Internalize a conceptual framework (Acumen’s Boundary Field Theory) to understand the complexity of roles and relationship dynamics within one’s profession
- Utilize this conceptual framework to bring to life the AMA’s practice guidelines and OSHA regulations regarding boundaries
- Address the various causes related to lapses in judgment
- Identify and execute appropriate role function (treating physician), role-related tasks (diagnosis and treatment), and role-related fiduciary duties (ethical and legal factors) in any given context
- Identify personal vulnerabilities and/or deviations in practice as problematic symptoms that require understanding, attention, and accountability
- Acquire transference/counter-transference awareness and skills training
- Develop individual relapse prevention and risk management strategies