If you have problems with the statistics I quote, take it up with the very well known Dr. Kenneth Pope, a man dedicated to studying Ethics in Psychotherapy and counseling. He has done extensive research and it is available in the book used as texts for training of pscyhotherapist: Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling. The statistics are from his reasearch. The sympotoms of those damaged by sex with the therapist are well documented research also in his book. Pope did compare those not sexually abused by therapist. I quote: "The consequenses for clients whohave een sexually involved with a psychotherapist have been compared to those for matchec groups of thearpy clients whohave not been sexually involved with the therapist annnd of patients who have ben sexually involved with a (nontharapist) physician." Sources, "How clients are harmed by sexual contact with mental health professionals: The syndrome and its prevalence. journal of Counseling and Development, 76 222 -226. His research and sources go on and on. He has done extensive research in this area. As to the marriage or not: this is not the point, but any sex with client is abuse of trust and damaging to the client. PERHAPS those getting married don't experience the after affects of the sexual involvement with the therapist. I don't know of research on that. I was again, only quoting Pope. Pope addresses "The most effective predictor of whether a client will become sexually involved with a therapist IS WHETHER THAT THERAPIST HAS PREVIOUSLY ENGAGE IN SEX WITH A CINET Bates & Brodsky, 1989, cited byb Pope. The headline last week in my little towns of 25,000 is of a therapist who was accused by numerous women of sexual touching, one rape. These were "settled out of court," but it looks this time that things may go deeper. There was already a theapist in town who lost his liscence over sexual touching. Thankfully, Pope also addresses why therapist "refrain". First reason he found statistically from surveys, unethical/illegal. Second. concern for the client well being/ not be explotative. This second brings full circle to my concern:
p. 162
Conclusion:
"The consequences for the client seem to cluster into ten very genreral categories: ambivlence guilt emptiness and isolation, exual confusion impaired ability to trust confused roles and boundaries, emotional lability, suppressed rage, increased suicical rish, and gonitive dysfuntion (frequent in the areas of concentration and memory and often involving flashbacks, intursive thoughts, unbidden images and nightmares." (Pope, 1988b: 1994)
And
Pope 1994 Sexual involvement with therapist: Patients assessment, subsequent therapy, forensics. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
All working in counseling and psychotherapy must bring heart and caring to the work.
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