ABSTRACT
Sexual taboo violations have occurred since the inception of psychoanalytic treatment, but have only recently come under scrutiny. Functioning as leaders, teachers, and supervisors, senior analysts attain a pre-eminent position by virtue of psychoanalytic knowledge, clinical practice, and probity of character. In a training hierarchy, experienced practitioners are responsible for candidates, providing academic and ethical guidance, and models with which younger analysts and students of psychotherapy may identify. This chapter discusses sexual violations with particular reference to senior analysts and training analysts, although some case examples are taken from psychiatric training programmes. Sexual contact between a psychiatrist and a patient is directly prohibited by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Codes of Ethics of various psychoanalytic societies. Analytic societies and mental health groups are vulnerable to such behaviour. Endorsement without reservation is hard because of differing standards in the wider culture and the bivalent nature of taboo.
