darkrunner, the example I gave about the $500 is definitely one that gives "food for thought." In that case it worked out OK, but as you suggested, the ending might not have been so happy. This was definitely a point of discussion in my class. I am glad this example was included as a case study so that we could discuss this issue. It would have been easier to give a case example where the boundaries were loosened and harm resulted. But instead we got a positive outcome of bending the rules. Makes one think. Therapists will be faced with this many times in their practice, so good to grapple with these issues early.

Here's another example of boundary transgression. In this one, the client was harmed and the therapist lost his license. A therapist had an established relationship with a boy (about 12, I think, but not sure). The therapist sometimes saw this boy outside of the office--bought him a coke at the corner store, etc. The boy was not well off and in a bad home situation. The therapist said (hinted?) that he would buy the boy a bicycle for Christmas. Perhaps realizing he had gone too far, the therapist did not buy the bike, but the boy had expected/counted on it and was very upset, felt betrayed, etc. A complaint was filed. The therapist lost his license.

Part of adhering to strict boundaries is that it provides "risk management" for therapists. This means risk to themselves. That may sound rather uncaring, but you see seminars and continuing education for therapists on this topic all the time.

Interestingly, I had a situation come up with my T that he said he could only handle in a certain way, due to ethical concerns. Yet his ethical concerns ran counter to other ethical concerns about the situation. Whose ethics are "right"?