Boundaries or Barbed Wire - a dangerous tool?

A panel discussion – collaboration between The Flying Child & Survivors’ Voices

“Boundaries” are a popular concept that circulates not only in therapeutic circles but far beyond, from territorial disputes to everyday language around self-care. Most of the time, at least in therapy, boundaries are supposed to be about creating safety.

There is no question that boundaries are needed to protect both health professionals and clients. Professional guidance makes emphatically clear that there are dangers in crossing boundaries. In some circumstances, however, boundaries can themselves be dangerous. What if boundaries are used inconsistently, for example, and fearfully—when clients are at their most vulnerable? What about when boundaries leave clients feeling confused, abandoned, and severely retraumatised?

Boundaries can be used to pay lip service to “ethics” when they are in fact a way of shutting down communication, and dispensing with courage, responsibility, and care. They can undermine the work of therapy.

This exploratory event (online) aims to provide some balance to the huge emphasis on the value of boundaries across mental health and other professions. We need more awareness of how harmful boundaries can be. Further, moments of boundary crossing – when carefully and responsibly managed – can be healing and mutually rewarding.

The event aims to support individuals within their organisations and within a wider culture to be more reflective about boundaries. It is not about blame: it is extremely difficult for individuals to act against the grain of their training, organisations and cultures—we all need support. We hope that such reflection could reduce the harm caused by boundaries, without jeopardising their need and value. We also hope to build on this event in future; we anticipate it becoming the first of a series of discussions.

Panellists

Sophie Olson: Activist | Public Speaker | Author of The Flying Child | Trainer | Founder and Director of The Flying Child CIC

Joanne Stubley: Medical Psychotherapist, Lead Tavistock Trauma Service | Psychoanalyst | Co-editor Complex Trauma: the Tavistock Model | Member of the Network for the Promotion for change: NRCSA.

Jonathon Tomlinson: GP in East London for over 20 years | Chair of Trustees for the Centre for Health & The Public Interest | Director at London ACEs Hub and Shoreditch Trust

Shelley Trower: Professor Emeritus | Writer | Activist | Research Community Co-facilitator for Survivors’ Voices

Patricia Walsh: Counsellor with over 40 years experience with trauma, including women’s refuges and rape crisis centres | Co-author of The Flying Child | Co-Director of The Flying Child CIC

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