IntroductionBoundaries are extremely important in a counseling session. Setting boundaries and limits during therapy sessions represents an ethical decision that is set by each counselor, when entering into a therapeutic relationship. In this presentation, I will discuss relevant boundary issues that staff have encountered since working at this agency. Finally, I will describe how these boundaries are addressed and resolved at this site. Significant Boundary Issues at This Internship Site According to G. Corey, M. Corey, and Callanan (2007), boundary crossing deviates from accepted usual practices that might benefit the customer. A boundary violation is a serious ethical breach that could potentially harm the client (Corey et al., 2007). Without boundaries, limits or certain rules, the therapeutic professional relationship could not be defined as such. At this internship site, the program is command-based, meaning that if the client/Soldier fails to show up or is late for an appointment, the counselor should call the Soldier's 1st Sergeant or Commander. If the soldier tested positive for substances on a urinalysis, the counselor was to report this as a "fact" during treatment, thus the soldier could be considered a "rehabilitation failure" of the program, in which case the command would begin soldier separation procedures. army soldier. In the past, staff have encountered clients requesting special favors from counselors regarding not reporting late appointments, no-shows, or drug or alcohol testing to their command positive. Many of these soldiers were married and had children. This was a strict violation of the rules of the Military Substance Abuse Program (ASAP). The advisor has such a large...... middle of paper ...... separate from the Army, it is imperative in this organization that advisors follow strict boundaries regarding members of the Armed Forces. It is okay to advocate for the soldier when we believe it is appropriate, especially when we know the soldier has made great progress with his treatment. References4Therapy.com Network (nd). Boundary problems. Retrieved April 22, 2011 from http://www.4therapy.com/professional/research/lawandethics/item.php?uniqueid=4609&categoryid=267&Corey, G., Corey, MS, & Callanan, P. (2007). Issues and ethics in the helping professions. (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/ColeWalker, R. and Clark, J. (1999). Overcoming boundary issues: Clinical supervision as risk management. Psychiatric Services, 50 (11), 1435-1439. Accessed April 22, 2011 from http://www.ps.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/reprint/50/11/1435