Therapist-client sex: Clients' retrospective reports

Therapists will be more effective practitioners when they understand the fa ctors that contribute to sexual boundary violations. The authors' interview s with former victims indicated that offending therapists were mostly reput able psychologists working alone, and that boundary violations developed gr adually. The clients were often victims of child sexual abuse. Many reporte d pleasurable feelings during the affair but saw the experience as hurtful or exploitative in retrospect. The authors' findings imply that practitione rs should minimize seemingly innocuous physical consolation or self-disclos ure, especially with survivors of child abuse. They are encouraged to selec t offices with other professionals and to participate in peer-supervision a ctivities.