Posted by Penny on October 7, 2003, at 9:30:11
In reply to Please read...Code of Ethics Therapy, posted by jay on October 7, 2003, at 8:13:22
> I have noticed a number of folks who mention extensive attraction to their therapist, which is with no mistake, transference. What you must realize is that this is one of the ultimate *sins* in counselling. Therapists are usually obligated to terminate the client-patient relationship if this occurs. Therapists can face criminal charges and lose their license to practice if they operate outside the boundaries of a client-patient relationship at all.
I agree with Dinah. Transference is actually one of the most powerful parts of therapy, and that power, when in the hands of a skilled therapist (psychologist or social worker) can create great, positive change in the client. My former therapist was a clinical social worker (in the US) and one of my biggest issues was transference regarding her pregnancy and subsequent maternity leave. While it wasn't sexually oriented transference, it was still quite powerful, and she used it to get at many of the issues I had surrounding my past and current relationships with family.
There is NEVER any excuse for a therapist to ACT ON transference, as in admitting sexual attraction to a client, trying to have an outside relationship with a client, etc. That is unethical b/c it is using the therapist's position of power in a way that would be harmful (regardless of whether the client sees it this way or not) to the client.
The National Association of Social Workers (http://www.socialworkers.org/) addresses situations that might arise in the course of therapy in its code of ethics - for example, it says the following about 'conflicts of interest':
1.06 Conflicts of Interest
(a) Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment.(b) Social workers should not take unfair advantage of any professional relationship or exploit others to further their personal, religious, political, or business interests.
(c) Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client.
(I have left out point (d))
The code of ethics also addresses sexual relationships:
1.09 Sexual Relationships
(a) Social workers should under no circumstances engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with current clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced.(b) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients' relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a close personal relationship when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client.
(c) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with former clients because of the potential for harm to the client.
(d) Social workers should not provide clinical services to individuals with whom they have had a prior sexual relationship.
And in regards to physical contact:
1.10 Physical Contact
Social workers should not engage in physical contact with clients when there is a possibility of psychological harm to the client as a result of the contact (such as cradling or caressing clients). Social workers who engage in appropriate physical contact with clients are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern such physical contact.
It seems clear to me that (1) sexual relationships with the client or people the client has close relationships with are against the rules, (2) physical contact between therapist and client is acceptable in a non-sexual, non-threatening, clear boundaries manner (my therapist and I hugged a couple of times), and (3) if the therapist is unable to handle transference in a professional manner in compliance with the code of ethics, *then* they should consider terminating therapy.But to say that a client's extensive attraction to his or her therapist is grounds for termination ... I hope, Jay, that is not really what you meant. It is vitally important for clients to bring up these feelings in therapy. However, it is also important that they be aware of the boundaries set by the code of ethics between client and therapist, and that they listen to their gut feeling if they feel like those boundaries are being crossed.
The full code of ethics for the NASW can be found here:
http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.aspSimilarly, here is a link to the code of ethics of the American Psychological Association:
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.htmlP
poster:Penny
thread:266267
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030925/msgs/266294.html