Vicarious Trauma and Resilience Part 4: Boundaries

Karpman’s Drama Triangle is used as a model to explain how practitioners can easily get drawn into the role of “rescuer,” “victim,” or “persecutor” if professional boundaries with clients/students are poorly managed. It is also shown how the Karpman model can be used to identify when boundaries have been crossed by practitioners or when transference (feeling, desires or expectations being projected onto the practitioner by the client/student) or countertransference (feelings, desires or expectations projected onto the client/student by the practitioner) may be occurring. Strategies for exiting the drama triangle are also highlighted. Finally, a continuum of over-involvement to under-involvement is discussed as an aid for identifying current dynamics between practitioner and client/student and for recognising the optimal level of engagement for practitioner and client/student wellbeing.