Raina just completed the book

Along with Play therapy for trauma informed tx I think we could also add in art therapy.

In looking over the code of ethics a couple ethical considerations stood out to me. I really appreciated Annie's afterward. Above all else I think through her writing Annie is trying to inform practitioners to "do no harm".

1) 1.04 Competence

(a) Social workers should provide services and represent themselves as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, license, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.

In the case of Annie's therapist, Melanie, it seems like she started working with Annie when she was very young and did not have to tools or capacity to be of assistance to someone with such a complex trauma as Annie.  This is illustrated in her initial 'promise' to adopt Annie and then creating retroactive boundaries that not only harmed the therapeutic relationship, but also deeply harmed Annie.

2) Conflicts of Interest
(c) Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. In instances when dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable, social workers should take steps to protect clients and are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries. (Dual or multiple relationships occur when social workers relate to clients in more than one relationship, whether professional, social, or business. Dual or multiple relationships can occur simultaneously or consecutively.)

For the same reason stated above.

3) 1.10 Physical Contact

Social workers should not engage in physical contact with clients when there is a possibility of psychological harm to the client as a result of the contact (such as cradling or caressing clients). Social workers who engage in appropriate physical contact with clients are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern such physical contact.

In the book Annie describes Melanie 'touching' her early on in their relationship and how when she pulled back later on and developed prof boundaries this really harmed Annie.

4) Termination of Services  (b) Social workers should take reasonable steps to avoid abandoning clients who are still in need of services. Social workers should withdraw services precipitously only under unusual circumstances, giving careful consideration to all factors in the situation and taking care to minimize possible adverse effects. Social workers should assist in making appropriate arrangements for continuation of services when necessary.

Melanie could not allow herself to be at fault, even partially for the therapeutic relationship going awry and terminated services without this closure, leaving Annie to deal with the baggage and not taking responsibility for her action/inaction.