Kenneth S. Pope, PhD, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist and an author and coauthor of many books, including Speaking the Unspoken: Breaking the Silence, Myths, andTaboos That Hurt Therapists and Patients (with Nayeli Y. Chavez-Duenas, Hector Y. Adames, Janet L. Sonne, and Beverly A. Greene, 2023). His awards include the APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to Public Service, the APA Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology) Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Clinical Psychology, the Canadian Psychological Association?s John C. Service Member of the Year Award, and the Ontario Psychological Association?s Barbara Wand Award for significant contribution to excellence in professional ethics and standards. Nayeli Y. Chavez-Duenas, PhD, is a professor at The Chicago School, College of Professional Psychology, where she leads the concentration in Latinx mental health in the Counseling Psychology Department. She is also the codirector of the IC-RACE Lab (Immigration Critical Race and Cultural Equity Lab) and has coauthored several books, including Speaking the Unspoken: Breaking the Silence, Myths, and Taboos That Hurt Therapists and Patients (with Kenneth S. Pope, Hector Y. Adames, Janet L. Sonne, and Beverly A. Greene, 2023). Her awards include the 2018 APA Distinguished Citizen Psychologist Award and the 2023 Distinguished Professional Career Award from the National Latinx Psychological Association. Hector Y. Adames, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist and a professor at The Chicago School, College of Professional Psychology, and the codirector of the IC-RACE Lab (Immigration Critical Race and Cultural Equity Lab). Dr. Adames has coauthored several books, including Speaking the Unspoken: Breaking the Silence, Myths, and Taboos That Hurt Therapists and Patients (with Kenneth S. Pope, Nayeli Y. Chavez-Duenas, Janet L. Sonne, and Beverly A. Greene, 2023). His awards include the 2018 Distinguished Emerging Professional Research Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race (APA Division 45) and a 2021 Presidential Citation award by APA.
Description
This book offers a concise, practical guide to ethical and legal concerns related to therapists' sexual feelings and fantasies. The psychotherapy profession has always struggled to deal openly with therapists' sexual feelings. Between the often unavoidable fact of sexual attraction, and the potential crossing of boundaries and sexual relationships with clients, there exists a wide range of assumptions, beliefs, feelings, and daydreams that often are suppressed and unspoken-sometimes with devastating consequences. This candid, practical book addresses three distinct areas related to therapists' sexual feelings: sexual attractions to clients (including sexual fantasies, dreams, and arousal); the violation of sexual boundaries with clients (including consensual therapist-patient sexual involvement); and forensic issues, including therapists who testify in cases where therapist-patient sex is at issue. The authors offer an extensive review of widespread and changing approaches to this topic in the history of psychotherapy, alongside a comprehensive look at current standards and research findings. They also provide important information for fact and expert witnesses, examining the evolving ethical and legal standards surrounding sexual relationships between therapists and clients, and discuss how to respond to clients to report having been sexually involved with a prior therapist. Incisive reflection questions encourage readers to recognize and respond appropriately to their own feelings in the therapy room.