Chapter 2
Discovering Your Starting Point
Boundary erosion in virtual therapy often occurs subtly and with good intentions. The informal nature of digital communication and the shared reality of working from home may unintentionally invite casualness or blurred roles.
Common examples include:
Clients texting or emailing outside scheduled sessions for emotional support
Sessions running overtime due to tech delays or loose transitions
Clinicians responding to DMs on social platforms or allowing overly informal tone shifts in session
These slippages, while seemingly minor, risk reinforcing enmeshment, dependence, or over-functioning on the part of the clinician.
Introduce a clear digital code of conduct during the intake process. Include expectations for:
Modes of communication between sessions
Session length and timeliness
Emergency protocols and availability
Revisit these guidelines periodically, especially when relational boundaries feel tested.
According to a 2022 provider report by SimplePractice, 63% of mental health clinicians experienced boundary-related challenges in telehealth that they had not previously encountered in in-person practice.
Virtual therapy may blur lines in ways that feel subtle:
Clients texting outside of sessions
Sessions starting late or extending beyond time
Clinicians tempted to be overly casual
Tip:
Set a digital code of conduct during intake and revisit when necessary.
Stat:
63% of providers experienced boundary challenges in telehealth they had not encountered in-person (SimplePractice, 2022).