Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Behavioral Health Administration

Can you describe your experience in behavioral health administration, specifically training and supervising behavioral health providers?

With over 35 years in behavioral health administration, I have held multiple C-level roles where my responsibilities included developing and overseeing personnel policies, staff training systems, and risk management strategies. Currently, as the Executive Director of an association of behavioral health providers, I run consulting groups for HR and training leaders of member organizations.

What standard policies/procedures exist to ensure behavioral health providers and patients maintain a professional/appropriate relationship?

Policies and procedures for professional boundaries must be tailored to the service type and client population served. For instance, school-based services require different protocols than adult residential treatment programs or inpatient programs serving young children. These policies should be explicit, consistent, and accompanied by initial and ongoing training on their procedural application. They should articulate general staff expectations related to boundaries such as physical touch or contact outside work hours. In addition, they should note explicit prohibitions related to sexual contact and grooming.

Can you describe your experience in behavioral health administration, specifically training and supervising behavioral health providers?

With over fifteen years’ experience in clinical social work, I have worked extensively with adolescents and adults dealing with various mental health challenges. These include depression, anxiety, substance use, trauma, self-harm behaviors, suicidal ideation, and past suicidal attempts.

My roles have ranged from operating a private practice to serving on faculty at esteemed universities. I’ve supervised staff extensively and am well-versed in the standard of care applicable to outpatient licensed clinical social workers providing or supervising care for patients with mental health and substance use diagnoses.

What standard policies and procedures exist to ensure behavioral health providers and patients maintain a professional/appropriate relationship?

In behavioral health administration, there are stringent guidelines designed to uphold professionalism within patient-provider relationships. These include maintaining clear boundaries, avoiding dual relationships where possible, ensuring informed consent for treatment plans, respecting confidentiality unless there’s an imminent risk to the patient or others, and adhering to ethical codes set by professional bodies. Regular supervision and ongoing training are also crucial components of reinforcing these standards among healthcare providers.

Have you ever reviewed a similar case? If yes, please elaborate.

Yes, I have served as an expert witness in cases involving sexual abuse of patients by a clinician. Often, these cases revolve around whether the provider violated professional boundaries and breached their duty of care.