Reflections upon boundary complexities in the clinical practice of Croatian and Polish music therapists

Abstract

Boundaries separate and limit the territories of individuals’ needs, feelings, behaviours and thoughts. In the context of therapy, boundaries might be considered a framework for the whole therapeutic process. The focus of this study was to determine how professional boundaries are understood by Polish and Croatian music therapists, and to identify whether there are any differences between these two groups. Twenty music therapists (ten Polish and ten Croatian) participated in the study. Data was gathered using a modified version of a questionnaire by Miller, Commons and Gutheil (2006), with open questions added. The results show differences between the two groups in the perception of behaviours that are regarded as both harmful and beneficial, such as using private spaces, sharing meals, offering gifts, using social media and specific language. Possible reasons regarding these results are discussed.