Sexual contact between psychologists and their former therapy patients: psychoanalytic perspectives and professional implications.
Data was analyzed from the semi-structured interviews of 6 heterosexual male psychoanalytic psychotherapists who by self-report had not engaged in a post-termination sexual involvement. The focus of each interview was to elicit the participants' views about sexual contact between psychotherapists and their former therapy patients, as well as their related attitudes towards Standard 4.07 of the APA Ethics Code (1992). The results suggested great disparity of opinion regarding what might constitute acceptable, ethical behavior in this domain. Nonetheless, all the clinicians agreed that the potential for harm resulting from post-termination sexual involvements was great, They all shared the beliefs that transference did not resolve with termination, that professional responsibilities continued after treatment ended, and that power differentials between therapist and patient lingered, perhaps in perpetuity. However, it was determined to be premature to replace the current Standard 4.07 with an absolute prohibition against sexual involvements between therapists and their former patients.
Shavit
Natalie
N
Alliant International University. NRS614@yahoo.com
Bucky
Steven
S
D000328:Adult; D032781:Codes of Ethics; D003379:Countertransference; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D028743:Professional Misconduct / Q000941:ethics; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D011572:Psychoanalysis / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards; D011573:Psychoanalytic Interpretation; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000941:ethics / Q000517:prevention & control; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards; D014167:Transference, Psychology