Marissa is interviewing a woman who has come in for help with her bills and job-readiness training. The woman is the mother of a 2-year-old boy. Marissa is the mother of a 2-year-old boy as well. She considers herself an excellent mother. She prides herself on how she adapts her life around the needs of her child and how his needs come first. She is uncomfortable with the arrangements the woman must make to accommodate her impoverished circumstances, and so Marissa lectures the woman. “Children need stability, not instability and disorganization. They need to know you are there for them and not have continual disruptions. Does your son even know ahead of time when he will be staying with your mother and when he will be staying with you? You need to put this child first in your planning.” Marissa is surprised when the woman remarks quietly that seeking help so that she and her son can eat on a regular basis is putting her child first.

Above are some situations in which the boundary between the worker and the client has become blurred. Identify what went wrong and what needs to happen to correct the situation. Use the space provided to make notes.