REMEDIATION FOR ETHICS VIOLATIONS - FOCUS ON PSYCHOTHERAPISTS SEXUAL CONTACT WITH CLIENTS

The field of psychology has only recently begun to recognize the exten t and impact of professional impairment of its members, whereas severa l other professions have established formal identification and treatme nt plans for impaired colleagues. Impairment in psychologists may be c aused by various factors, but it has the same result: diminished level s of care and, frequently, ethics violations. Sexual contact with clie nts is considered in particular. Several alternate avenues for remedia tion exist, including mandatory psychotherapy for ethics offenders. Al though the majority of psychologists value personal therapy for traini ng purposes, it is the authors' opinion that mandated therapy is not a n appropriate form of rehabilitation for such violations of the ethics code.