DRAFT — Boundary scripts (email/text/phone) (Associate Handbook)
Clinic expectation (reachability): The clinic expects that your clients have a reliable way to get a hold of you for scheduling changes and logistical concerns. You may decide for yourself if you want to provide a text-only option or a phone call option, but if your clients can only reach you intermittently, there may need to be a discussion between the associate and the admin to make yourself more reachable to your clients by either text or phone call.
Clinic rule (no long phone calls outside sessions): Under no circumstances is an associate expected to make themselves available for longer phone calls outside of session time with clients.
Purpose
Help associates set clear communication boundaries without becoming unreachable.
Reference: boundaries for clinical counsellors
Email-only boundary (example)
“Email is the best way to reach me. I check it regularly and will respond as soon as I can.”
Text-only boundary (example)
“Text is the fastest way to reach me for scheduling. I don’t take phone calls during the day while I’m in session.”
No phone calls (example)
“I’m often in session and can’t answer calls. Please email or text and I’ll respond as soon as possible.”
BCACC example boundary language for intake (script)
“Our work together is focused on your wellbeing. Because of the power dynamics in therapy, I generally do not socialize with clients outside of session, and I do not connect on personal social media. If you have questions about professional boundaries at any time, we can talk about them.”
Therapy-process communication boundaries (script)
“Thank you for your message. I’m not able to read or respond to longer messages between sessions. For your safety and best interests, it’s important that any communication about your therapy process is contained within our session time. If you’d like, please bring this into our next session and we’ll make space for it. If scheduling needs to change, please let me know and I can help you reschedule.”
Must-have rule
- Clients must have a reliable way to reach you for scheduling/logistics.
- Longer phone calls outside of session time are not expected.