Secrecy

Secrecy is an endemic feature of work with complex, client problems and their often very complicated family and social circumstances; often directly associated with the sexual and other boundary violations that occur in complicated circumstances in childhood and adolescence. Shame, deception and avoidance naturally accompany secrecy. Secrecy is also a central feature of most addictions and is usually extremely difficult for a person’s close dependent relationship with a substance or activity to cease whilst that secrecy remains in place. Complexities of intimacy, sexuality and sex ordinarily accompany secrecy, boundary violations and addictions; all features of service delivery work with people and families with co-occurring problems and complex situations.