1. Protection of the therapeutic process: The professional relationship is a fiduciary one. It is not a friendship and even minor boundary transgressions can give a mixed message; a boundary symbolizes limits of a professional transaction.
2. Protection of clients from exploitation: Clients are vulnerable, and social workers are entrusted to protect them from more harm.
3. Protection of social workers from liability: The previous discussion of malpractice suits attests to this need.
