Tg. Gutheil et Ri. Simon, BETWEEN THE CHAIR AND THE DOOR - BOUNDARY ISSUES IN THE THERAPEUTIC TRANSITION ZONE, Harvard review of psychiatry, 2(6), 1995, pp. 336-340
Empirical and consultative experience reveals that damaging boundary v
iolations begin insidiously and are progressive. During the segment of
the therapy session that occurs ''between the chair and the door,'' p
atients and therapists are more vulnerable to committing boundary excu
rsions and violations. We suggest that inchoate boundary violations wi
th a potential for damaging progression usually first appear within th
is interval. This part of the session can be scrutinized for early war
ning of boundary violations and studied for its instructive value in r
isk management and prevention of sexual misconduct.