Risks and Considerations (Part 3)
7. Ethical Boundaries
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Clarify that the activity is not therapy
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Maintain confidentiality, but break it if safety is at risk
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Gain informed consent for participation, with separate consent for photos or data
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Collect only minimal data and store it securely
Clear boundaries make it easier to know when professional help is required.
8. Knowing When to Refer
Seek professional help immediately if you observe:
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Talk of suicide or self harm
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Threats of harm to others
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Acute psychosis
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Uncontrolled panic
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Collapse or injury
Critical reminder: Never leave a person in crisis alone.
Referral is only part of adapting. Activities also need to fit the needs of specific groups.
9. Tailoring for Audiences
Children and teens
Shorter sessions, movement breaks, simple grounding, guardian consent
Adults
Normalise stress, offer one small values based next step
Older adults
Provide seating, warmth, toilets, and slower pacing
Displaced or refugee groups
Co-facilitate with community leaders, create quiet spaces, be trauma-aware
Specific conditions
Provide structure for anxiety, small wins for depression, avoid abstract cosmic themes for psychosis or dissociation, consult a clinician if needed
Tailoring for the group is important, and so is tailoring for the culture and context.
