NONSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PSYCHOTHERAPISTS AND THEIR FORMER CLIENTS - OBLIGATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS

This article examines the issue of nonsexual relationships between psy chologists and their former therapy clients. What little research is a vailable concerning nonsexual relationships with former clients sugges ts that psychologists have clear reservations about some of these rela tionships, especially personal ones and intentional social interaction s. Relationships immediately following termination are seen as particu larly suspect. Drawing on the literature dealing with multiple relatio nships in general, and sexual relationships with former clients in par ticular, a number of arguments are made outlining why psychologists sh ould avoid significant nonsexual relationships with former clients for at least some period of time following termination.