Platonic, Sexual, and Power Dynamics: Real Talk About Relationship Boundaries When Working with Kids

With the explosion of #MeToo and #UsToo and #TimesUp accusations (finally) bringing deeply disturbing sexual abuse to light, across ages and work environments, we have come to a time of reckoning. As people who work with youth, there is a blurring of boundaries, and it is up to us to be aware of the sexual, platonic, and power dynamics at play when any people are in any sort of relationship. We wonder and worry – how can we model and teach appropriate boundaries and awareness of power dynamics to our campers? In this session, we will identify a matrix of relationships, and discuss the boundaries that exist, the ones we need to build, and how we create a safe and caring environment for every individual in our communities. This session will include actionable ways for counselors to interact in an appropriate way with both their supervisors and their campers. -By Sara Beth Berman