1. Reflection on case example.

I chose the third example, which describes a therapist who shared personal information in a Facebook group. She then received a request from someone in the group who wanted to become a client. 

I chose this example because it seems like something that I might encounter. I am in many local online groups for folks that share values. It seems plausible that at some point I might be in a situation where a potential client finds me through social media. 

My assessment is that this is a very natural interaction. It is reasonable for this social worker to share meaningful connections in an online space. The potential client was likely interested in working with a therapist she felt she could already trust. This online group seems like a potentially fruitful way for someone to identify a clinician with shared values. That being said, it seems significant that this social worker is able to keep this online platform a personal space. Social workers should avoid dual relationships when possible, and this social worker benefits from being able to stay in one role. 

I think this social worker should refer this person to someone else. The social worker likely has colleagues who share values and can better serve this potential client. The social worker can let this person know that it is important to her that they get to keep their online friendship. She can explain that the best way to ensure this happens is for the social worker to not enter professional relationships with anyone in the group. Potentially, this social worker could offer some additional resources or support strictly in the capacity of an online friend. 

2. Reflection on Reamer’s boundary dynamic: Intimacy

I selected intimacy because I am curious about the role that intimacy plays in therapeutic relationships. I believe that part of what makes therapy successful is having a genuine human connection with someone you can trust. It seems based on the definition of intimacy that it is something that is experienced in all relationships. Figure 1 shows a list of how one psychology today article defines intimacy (Ho,2024). It is important to me to have healthy boundaries with clients so I want to explore this. 

Figure 1

 

While working at a group home for adults with disabilities, many of my coworkers had blurred relationships with clients. For example, workers gave hugs and attended the birthday parties of some clients. This was experienced as typical at the agency and seemed to be enjoyed by staff and clients. In some instances, clients received mixed messages and there were ethical dilemmas with boundaries. This experience helped me understand how to offer intimacy that is appropriate and sustainable. 

Evans & Ringrose (2025) discuss intimacy in an article titled “More-Than-Human, More-Than-Digital: Postdigital Intimacies as a Theoretical Framework.” I learned about the concept of postdigital intimacies. This concept refers to the way human intimacy is influenced by modern technology use (Evans & Ringrose, 2025). The authors describe that the digital world and human world are often treated as separate. They suggest that the framework of postdigital intimacies must consider the digital world and human world to be blended (Evans & Ringrose, 2025). The authors also suggest that moving forward, regulations should define “intimacy” in a way that encompasses digital and more than digital realms (Evans & Ringrose, 2025).

3. Reflection on Reamer’s suggestion to develop a social media policy and share it with clients.

This strategy seems proactive and realistic. I am a nosy person and I empathize with the instinct to find someone’s social media to learn more about them. I appreciate that this policy protects both worker and client. Some things I would include in a social media policy are:

Expectations of the social worker: 

• I promise to not search for information online about my clients for any reason. 
• I will not accept or initiate friend requests on social media.
• If I see anything online about one of my clients, I will immediately navigate away from the information and take all measures to avoid the information moving forward. 
• If by coincidence I am in a social media group, comment chain, event, or other gathering with a client, I will not acknowledge the relationship. If the client identifies our relationship, I will proceed in a way that prioritizes client confidentiality. 

I think this strategy would be extremely effective at regulating social workers’ ethical ethical dilemmas and ethical mistakes. Social work operates based on shared values and frameworks. Social workers are practiced at using ethical frameworks to guide relationships. Part of what makes social work a field is a focused attention on how communication generates change. Being more intentional about social media in relationships is a beneficial practice that social workers are well-equipped to master. I know the topic of a social media policy has already sharpened my sense of ethical technology use.

I am going to intentionally create some postdigital intimacy and add a picture of some blooming Butterfly Milkweed from my yard. Milkweed is the host plant for monarchs and there are hundreds of species all over North America!

 

References 

 

Evans, A., & Ringrose, J. (2025). More-Than-Human, More-Than-Digital: Postdigital Intimacies as a theoretical framework. Social Media + Society, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051251317779

Ho, J. (2024, June 28). Unlock the secrets of satisfying, connected relationships. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unlock-your-true-motivation/202406/the-5-types-of-intimacy-you-need-to-know

Reamer, F. G. (2023). Artificial Intelligence in Social Work: Emerging Ethical Issues. International Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 20(2), 52-71. https://doi.org/10.55521/10-020-205