► Who is carrying out the research?

This research study is led by Rebecca Boyle, at the Psychology Department, London Metropolitan University. Dr Charlotte Brownlow and Dr Elaine Kasket are on the supervisory team for this research project. This research fulfils a partial requirement for a Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and has been approved by the Psychology Department’s Research Ethics Review Panel, London Metropolitan University. This study is being conducted in accordance with British Psychological Society and London Metropolitan University Psychology Department ethics guidelines.
Thank you for your interest in our study. If you would like to take part in this research, please read the following information and then click “I accept” at the bottom of the page.

► Who is being invited to participate in this research?

You have been approached to take part in this study because you have used an online-chat forum associated with the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) diagnosis.

Therefore, if you -

• are diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder or associate yourself with this diagnosis.
• would be prepared to complete an online questionnaire about therapeutic boundaries.
• are prepared not to mention, by name, any colleagues or service users, or to include information that could make third parties or institutions easily identifiable.

- we would really like you to take part in our study.

► What is the purpose of this study?

This study aims to research BPD clients’ experiences of therapeutic boundaries. This gives you an opportunity to contribute to research, which will help clients and professionals, better understand therapeutic work with BPD clients. Alliance ruptures and premature drop-out, from therapy, are common and limit its effectiveness.

Boundaries are essential for establishing and maintaining therapeutic relationships to allow the safety necessary for client self-disclosure (Epstein, 1994). For the purposes of this research, therapeutic boundaries are the very edge of appropriate conduct. Therefore, boundary dilemmas may emerge from role issues, time, place and space, money, gifts and services, clothing, language, and physical or sexual contact (Gutheil & Gabbard, 1993).

► When is this study running?

The questionnaire will be online from May 2009 until mid July 2009

► What do you have to do now?

It is important that you know enough about this study, so you can choose whether to take part. You can contact Rebecca Boyle, the principal researcher, if you have any questions or concerns about the research. This can be done by email: rcb0034@londonmet.ac.uk. This study is supervised by Dr Charlotte Brownlow: c.brownlow@londonmet.ac.uk and Dr Elaine Kasket: e.kasket@londonmet.ac.uk .

If you wish to take part, your consent to participate in this study will be assumed by clicking on “I ACCEPT” at the bottom of this page.

■ Study results

If you wish, you can request to receive full feedback about the study, once it is complete.

■ As an informed participant of this research:

• I have read the information on this web-page.
• I understand that my participation will involve completing an online questionnaire about therapeutic boundaries.
• I understand that I will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire of demographic information (eg. age, ethnicity etc).
• I understand what my role will be in this research, and all my questions have been answered to my satisfaction.
• I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw at any time, for any reason, and without prejudice.
• I understand that the confidentiality of the information I provide will be safeguarded and that no identifying information will be collected.
• I understand that thinking about therapeutic boundaries may make me feel uncomfortable. If this occurs, I may email Rebecca Boyle regarding further sources of assistance.
• I understand that I am free to ask any questions, at any time, before and during the research study.
• I understand that this study is being conducted purely for research purposes, for a Doctoral dissertation, conducted by Rebecca Boyle.
• I agree to take part in the above research study.

● I understand that by selecting “I accept” below, I am giving my consent to participate in this research study. I have read this web-page and understand what is says. I am 18 years of age, or older, and voluntarily agree to participate in this research project.

► I ACCEPT ◄

Please print a copy of this page for your records

Thank you for your interest in this research study.
It is greatly appreciated.