Healthy Boundaries With
At-Risk Students
Ofc Tara Fleetwood
Bellingham Police
Crime Prevention Unit
The Importance of
Boundaries…
In order to make positive, healthy
changes and meet expected outcomes
with at-risk students, professionals
must maintain and reinforce healthy
boundaries.
The At-Risk Client May:
Lack interpersonal skills
Have a chemical/alcohol dependency
Exhibit manipulative behavior
Suffer from emotional/physical abuse
Be in financial crisis
Have seemingly endless needs that may
burn out the most diligent of people
We All Have “Baggage”
The Federal Government reports that
1 in 4 adults suffer from some form of
mental illness, and the number is
increasing. Be conscious of
precipitating factors and triggering
events.
Signs of Students with
Unhealthy Boundaries
At-Risk student who tells all
Talks at an intimate level at first meeting
Falls in love with an acquaintance
Believes others should anticipate his/her
needs and fulfill them
Falls apart so someone will take care of
them
Signs of Students with
Unhealthy Boundaries
(Cont.)
Self-abuse
Allows people to take advantage of them
Food and chemical abuse
Sexual and physical abuse
Takes/gives all regardless of need
Goes against personal values to please
others
Signs of Staff with Unhealthy
Boundaries:
Give your home number to student or tell
them to call you anytime
Share intimate personal information with
student
Believe that only you can “save” this
person
Believe the “system” doesn’t understand,
but you do, so you must intervene.
Signs of Staff with Unhealthy
Boundaries (con’t.)
Believes other staff members don’t understand
when you discuss/defend your behavior with
student
Lend student money
Physical/emotional abuse
Take sides in arguments between students
Experience stress induced illnesses (migraines,
asthma, etc.) when involved with student
To establish healthy boundaries
you must first know yourself!
The Crisis Prevention Institute teaches
professionals the use of rational
detachment to let go of the outcome,
without overreacting or acting
inappropriately. Find a positive outlet
for the negative energy, in order to foster
a rationally detached view of an
unpleasant situation.
Make use of talking with and
involving colleagues,
confidentially, to release stress
and provide feedback and
support in successfully setting
boundaries.
Managing Healthy Boundaries:
Distinguish which type of boundary is
unhealthy and discuss with the student how the
behavior is inappropriate and how to avoid this
in the future.
Offer a substituted behavior in place of the
inappropriate behavior.
Set firm limits. Be prepared to reinforce them.
Refer clients to the proper social service agency
personnel trained to meet their needs.
If these steps do not work, or
the student refuses redirection,
take the appropriate steps to
withdraw contact.
Staff should continually work
to reinforce and develop their
own professional boundaries to
increase effectiveness and
reduce stress as they work with
at-risk students.
Establishing Healthy
Boundaries
Establish boundaries and parameters
early in the relationship
Maintain personal awareness
Avoid risky behavior
Maintain appropriate settings
Motivate students and build self-esteem
Documentation and communication
“If it is predictable it is
preventable”