Sexual exploitation by a helping professional : sexual contact of any kind between a helping professional (doctor, therapist, teacher, priest, professor, police officer, lawyer, etc.) and a client/patient.
- It is difficult for a client/patient to give informed consent to sexual contact or boundary violations because the helping professional holds a great deal of power over that client/patient.
- 90% of sexual boundary violations occur between a male provider and a female client/patient (Plaut, S.M., 1997, p. 79).
- Such behavior is regarded as unethical and, in every licensed profession, can be grounds for malpractice and possible loss of license.
There are three major types of sexual involvement between a client/patient and a professional:
- Sexual activity in the context of a professional treatment, evaluation, or service
- Sexual activity with the implication that it has therapeutic benefit
- A sexually exploitative relationship
Why it is not acceptable behavior:
- The helping professional starts from a position of great power over the client/patient and is expected to respect and maintain professional boundaries.
- The professional has a responsibility to protect the interests of the client/patient and not to serve his/her own needs.
- The client/patient has put his/her trust in that professional and the betrayal of that trust can have devastating consequences.
Within the Therapeutic Relationship:
- Clients in therapy are the most susceptible because the client is already vulnerable and trusts the therapist t0 help her/him feel better.
- Therapy relationships are particularly intimate, with clients sharing their innermost thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Issue of Transference:
- Transference- Way in which a client transfers negative/positive feelings about others to the therapist. Transference in and of itself is not a bad thing. In fact, it is necessary in all therapeutic relationships.
- Countertransference- When the therapist projects his or her own feelings back onto the client.
- Problem- When the therapist is unable to recognize transference and countertransference reactions and, instead, responds in a sexual manner.
Common Reactions:
- Sexual dysfunction
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Increased risk of suicide
- Feelings of guilt, shame, anger, confusion, worthlessness
- Loss of trust
Very Low Report Rate:
- It is estimated that only 4-8% of survivors of sexual exploitation by helping professionals report the exploitation (Gartrell, N., et al.,1987 per TAASA, p. 168, 2004).
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Often there is reluctance to report because of
- Anticipated or real pain associated with pursuing the case
- Fear that she/he won’t be believed.
- It often takes several years for the client to recognize that she/he has been harmed.