Healthcare Training Institute - Quality Education since 1979
Psychologist, Social Worker, Counselor, & MFT!!

Section 9
Track #9 - Referrals

Question 9 found at the bottom of this page
Test | Table of Contents
Get Audio Track: Open a new window with Ctrl N,
Left click audio track to Listen, Right click to "Save..." mp3
Get PRINTABLE format of this page

Let's look at boundaries as they relate to the referral process. Just as you cannot be all things to all people, so there is no one social institution that will serve all the needs of a complex individual in a complex society. Failure to refer can have tragic consequences in cases when the physical health of the client is in question or when physical factors may play a potential role in the client's quality of life. For example, the possible physical complication of a client with anorexia nervosa requires the monitoring of physiological consequences by a physician. This example of the boundary of referral to a physician in the case of anorexia nervosa is pretty clear cut. But let's look at a more complicated example. What if you have been seeing a client for several years and you feel a colleague who specialized in, for example Gastault training would be of benefit to your client.

As you know being referred usually carries with it elements of rejection, anger, hope, and expectation. How do you introduce the idea of a referral to alleviate your client's feeling of being rejected? How do you handle possible anger from the client regarding your suggestion concerning a referral? How do you introduce the idea of a referral to another therapist, while not raising false hope in the client? How do you bring your client's expectation level regarding the new therapist into line with reality…so he or she does not view the new therapist as a cure-all for their problems?

Think over your current or past clients whom you felt may have needed a referral. Think of a client you referred to another agency or professional. Now think of client you did not refer to another agency or professional that possibly could have benefited from the treatment or services of another. Where and how did you draw this boundary in you mind? Was a referral not made as a measure to avoid dealing with you client's possible feelings of rejection, anger, hope, and expectation?

Thus, two boundary questions are proposed here. The first question is, when to refer and when not to refer? The second question is, when does referring or not referring serve to meet my own needs and not the needs of my client? To find an answer to these two boundaries ask yourself the following three questions:
#1. What is the context of the situation for considering a referral?
#2. Would my client's goals be better served by a referral?
#3. What is the potential harm resulting from referring or not referring to another?

QUESTION 9
What are four possible reactions your client my have when a referral to another professional or agency is suggested? To select and enter your answer go to Test.