Boundaries, Reflective Practice and Self-Care

This programme is designed to provide an overview of boundaries and the many ways in which they can be encountered and managed. The workshop will also include reflective practice and self-care as the three areas are closely linked. There is a strong emphasis on practical examples of boundary issues with illustrations of best practice offered throughout the training. 

Participants will explore why boundaries are important at work, which will include looking at scenarios created by participants reflecting the work they do. The workshop will build on the existing knowledge within the group in relation to boundaries and enhance confidence in participants managing their professional boundaries and the ways they are respected and guarded.  

The programme includes identifying positive behaviour in relation to our personal boundaries and understanding negative behaviour and how to identify actions that suggest an individual's boundaries are becoming inappropriate. Learners will be made aware of how to raise concerns in a professional manner, and where to seek advice and information about boundary issues as they arise. The workshop will allow space and time for learners to reflect on their own practice and discuss clients that they have had or are currently working with (suitably anonymised) in relation to managing boundaries. Self-care will also be covered in the programme as it is fundamentally linked to our ability to manage our personal and professional boundaries. 

This workshop is open to individuals and can also be delivered as in-house training to groups of employees.

Members of The Psychological Society of Ireland and The Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI) can earn Learning Credits/CPD points for particpating in this workshop. 

 

“Liam was a fantastic trainer. He took the time to listen to what we needed and allowed extra time for different bits that he could tell were generating discussion for us as a team.  I really enjoyed how interactive the training was and how much it was tailored to our group and what we needed“.

Jessica Taylor, Senior Social Worker, Foster Care Ireland

February 2025

 

“The course was well-paced, engaging, and thought-provoking, with lots of  time for reflection and group work which I liked. Liam’s approach was relaxed and insightful, and it made the learning feel natural and conversational, and encouraged open, meaningful discussion. I learned a lot, thank you!”.

Zoe Donnelly, Administrator, Bray Community Addiction Team, Bray, Co. Wicklow

February 2025

 

“Thank you for delivering the training course.  I have recommended the course to all the LAIT teams in Ireland.  Our trainer Liam was brilliant.” 

Philip Gardiner, Assistant Staff Officer, Local Authority Integration Team, Wicklow County Council

January 2025

 

"Liam delivered a fantastic workshop, in a down to earth manner, please thank him from me. One of the first courses I attended in all my years on this earth that I didn't yawn or feel bored.  Will be recommending that the training should be rolled out company wide."

Dave Fitzmaurice, Technology Access Tutor, Vision Ireland (formerly NCBI)

August 2024

Programme Duration

One full day.

Learning Outcomes

The aim of this training programme is to enable participants to:

  • Become aware of the importance of professional boundaries.
  • Define what are good/bad boundaries.
  • To highlight some of the areas where boundaries may become blurred and ways of proactively dealing with these.
  • To identify where a person’s boundaries are not clear and appropriate responses to this.
  • Define a “best practice” approach to maintaining boundaries.
  • Understand the need to have an effective framework in relation to professional boundaries, i.e. confidentiality, duty of care, consent to share information etc.
  • Improve professional boundaries, i.e. record keeping, ethical boundaries etc.
  • Improve personal boundaries, i.e. self‐disclosure, use of supervision.
  • Reflect on their practice in relation to boundaries
  • Understand the importance of self-care

Programme Content

Participants will receive links to supporting documentation and a copy of the presentation slides by email which will help them to develop their understanding of boundaries, reflective practice and self-care appropriate to this level. During the day, learners will have the opportunity to discuss and explore issues relating to boundaries, reflect on their practice and the ways in which they have encountered this as an issue in their work. There will be the opportunity over the training to allow participants to experience “real” situations and scenarios to transfer the theory of the course into practice. The importance of practicing self-care will be included along with discussions around what constitutes self-care.

The methodology used in this training will be a combination of the following:

  1. Participative: The participants will be asked to contribute to the training both in the large group and also in smaller ones. There will be a number of exercises throughout the training that are designed for the group to be split up into smaller groups.
  2. Experiential: The training will allow participants to contribute by using examples of anonymised clients that they have worked with or are currently working with in relation to professional boundaries.
  3. Theory into practice: The training will allow some role‐plays that will encourage participants to put the theory of maintaining boundaries into practice.
  4. Information giving: A copy of the presentation and information on relevant reading that will be emailed to each participant.
  5. Worker led: The training will be flexible to the needs of the group.

Suitable for: 

Psychologists, Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Nurse Practitioners, Youth Workers, Social Care Workers or any profession where maintaining professional boundaries are important.  

Connect with Your Trainer

The Learning Curve Institute will distribute a unique pre-course questionnaire to each participant in order to ensure the training meets the needs of everyone taking part and is tailored to the appropriate level, while also covering specific situations or scenarios as highlighted by the group.

The Learning Curve Institute also offers a bespoke post course support system whereby participants are provided with the contact details of the trainer and are free to contact them with any questions they may have.

Programme Certification

Participants will each receive an eCertificate of Completion in "Boundaries, Reflective Practices and Self-Care" from The Learning Curve Institute.