3 Tips on setting boundaries with your challenging clients

Hey Clinicians, are you comfortable with setting boundaries in session? Or do you let things slide in avoidance, only to become frustrated and resentful towards your client? 

Boundaries are not something that comes easy for most therapists. It can bring us a lot of anxiety. We can struggle with finding the right words, on how to talk about this. I know that Grad school didn’t give me the tools, to have these hard conversations with clients. We got into the field as helpers and healers after all. I know that we can feel guilty or even bad, when we have to set boundaries. But avoiding boundaries can eventually impact our therapeutic relationships. Clients will respect us more, when we set boundaries because we are holding a safety container for them, with limits. 

You are hoping that your difficult client will just quit therapy, rather than having a boundary talk. But this doesn’t always happen, so you’re left stuck to figure it out, on how to navigate this hard conversation. 

This is why I work with Clinicians, so you can gain the support, guidance, tools and confidence needed, to set your boundaries with ease. 

Here’s 3 Tips On Setting Boundaries With Your Challenging Clients:

1. Use clear and direct communication. Don’t go into a long reason why you’re setting boundaries. 

2. Stick to your boundary. Don’t back down or change your boundary, if your clients get upset or pushes back. 

3. If your client doesn’t agree to the boundaries set, it might be best to part ways with your client. Not every client is going to be the right fit client.

Clinicians, it’s important to figure out your boundaries. Understand your limits and the consequences when client’s cross your limits. It will take time to get used to saying your boundaries out loud to your clients. So give yourself some time to practice. Be patient and kind to yourself, especially if your boundaries are not well received by your clients. Remember that it’s worth having this tough conversation, for maintaining healthy therapeutic relationships.