"Flying with a Safety Net"

Abstract

Working as a member of a multidisciplinary team with non-offending spouses and children who have experienced or witnessed family violence can lead to a number of ethical dilemmas. There may be pressure from child protection services to accept their goals for therapy or to use therapy as an investigative tool. The social and financial hardship often faced by families may lead to pressure from either spouse or children to support reintegration as soon as possible. These dilemmas occur when clinical feedback does not support the agendas of the system or the family. Maintaining a helpful stance means adhering to high ethical standards and being especially aware of the maintenance of professional boundaries. Consultation and regular case conferences provide important safety nets and help keep the focus on who has the potential for being harmed and on questions such as “who is my client,” “what is my role,” and “what are the goals” with this family at this time. The most important issues are protection of those who are vulnerable and ensuring that the dignity of the client is maintained while providing services.