• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Veterinary Wisdom

A World By the Tail, Inc. Brand
and Home of ClayPaws® Kits

Veterinary Wisdom logo

We Ship Worldwide!
1.888.271.8444

  • Products
    • All Products
    • ClayPaws® Print Kits
    • ClayPaws® Starter Kits
    • ClayPaws® Tools
    • ClayPaws® Decorative Accessories
    • Pet Sympathy Cards
    • Euthanasia Specific
    • Other Bereavement Products
    • After Death Body Care
    • Books & eBooks
    • New Products
    • Pet Parent Products
    • Current Specials
  • How it Works
    • How to Make a ClayPaws® Print
    • How to Bake a ClayPaws® Print
    • How to Order
    • FAQ
    • Our Product Catalog
    • Request a Sample
  • Resources
    • Support for Veterinary Professionalsslide handing print to client
      • Free Staff Handouts
      • Staff Resources About Pet Loss
      • Recommended Reading
    • Support for Pet Parentsslide loving dog
      • Plan Ahead for Pet Loss
      • Make Decisions
      • Make Decisions about Pet Cancer
      • Pet Euthanasia
      • Find Support for Grief
      • Kids and Grief
      • Begin Again
    • Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Us
    • Our Expertise
    • Our Team
    • Our History
    • Customer Service
    • Shipping Info
    • Giving Back
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Home » Blog » Setting Boundaries for Support

Setting Boundaries for Support

September 28, 2022 by Laurel Lagoni

setting boundaries WEBVeterinary team members who provide skilled client support often develop an extremely loving and loyal clientele. Many of  your clients will think of you as a friend. This is why it is important to understand the concept of setting boundaries for support.

Once your clients have experienced the quality of your comfort and care, they may naturally turn to you for assistance with the other problems in their lives. This may be especially common when those problems involve a medical issue or death. For example, they may come to you with questions about an illness they are coping with, their child’s struggle to recover from a severe injury, or the death of one of their close relatives or friends. These conversations will be emotional, and it will be tempting for you to help them as much as you can.

Setting Boundaries

If you begin to feel burdened by others’ problems, gently remind yourself of the limits, or boundaries, of your client support responsibilities. Remember that you are (most likely) not a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, family therapist, member of the clergy, or suicide prevention counselor. Nor do you want to be! These are professional roles that require years of study and experience. You are, by choice, a veterinary medical professional and therefore required to deal only with the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and issues associated with losing a beloved pet. While it is very appropriate for you to be sensitive and supportive, your efforts can be consistently limited to addressing the issues that arise surrounding the death of a companion animal.

If you have the time, it is always appropriate to listen to the problems of a “friend.” But, if you find yourself drawn to help a “client-friend” attempt to resolve another personal issue, remind yourself that you may not be the best-qualified person to do so. This is the time simply to listen. Then, if appropriate, make a referral to a mental health professional or local support program that can provide the specific kind of counseling your client-friend needs.

Take Care of Clients by Taking Care of Yourself

Please take care of yourself and remember that, when providing support, it is always more helpful to allow the other person to remain in control of his or her situation. Facilitate the grieving process by offering your clients guidance, structure, and honest information. Teach them about what they can expect from the normal process of grieving. Emotional support efforts are most effective when you understand that you have a responsibility to, rather than for, your clients. It may be easier for you to understand the difference and to adhere to the limits and boundaries that define basic client-support principles, as well as what is not  helpful to say or do, as described in the staff handouts, Basic Principles for Providing Effective Grief Support and What NOT to Say What NOT to Do.

Keep up the good work,

SIgnature Image Laurel WEB

Laurel Lagoni
Co-Founder
World by the Tail, Inc.

Copyright © 1997, Rev. 2022 Laurel Lagoni, Dana Durrance. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the author.

Filed Under: Expressing Sympathy

Previous Post: « Supporting Your Clients’ Grief
Next Post: Emotional Support Protocols »

Footer

World by the Tail logo

Contact Information

Toll Free 888.271.8444
Local 970.223.5753
Fax 970.223.1226
Email info@wbtt.com

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Terms & Conditions

  • Site Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Customer Service
  • Shipping Info

Affiliations

  • BBB logo
  • PLPA logo
  • ICC Logo with Tagline
  • NOMV Tag
  • IAOPCC Logo
© Copyright 2023 World by the Tail · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Terms
This website uses cookies to give you the best experience by remembering your preferences for repeat visits. By clicking “Accept,” you consent to the use of ALL cookies.
Learn moreACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT