ABSTRACT
It is generally agreed that sexual boundary violations remain harmful to clients no matter how much time elapses after termination of therapy.
(Corey et al., 2003: 277)
CLIENT±PRACTITIONER SEXUAL DUAL
RELATIONSHIPS
Undoubtedly, the most taboo of all client±practitioner dual relationships are those of a sexual nature. The profession regards a sexual relationship between a client and their therapist as an exploitative use of the therapist's power, role and status in the relationship. It is widely believed that they cause considerable psychological harm to the client (Pope and Vasquez, 1998). Furthermore, some equate sex between a client and therapist with incest or sexual abuse (see, for example, Gabbard, 1989; Pope, 1988a). A characteristic feature of any `abusive' sexual relationship is the violation of a client's rights, in tandem with the therapist's abuse and exploitation of their power in one or more of the dual relationship roles.
