1st Edition

Sexual Attraction in Therapy Managing Feelings of Desire in Clinical Practice

By Michael Shelton Copyright 2020
    182 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    182 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This accessible book offers effective protocol for engaging in better sexual decision-making in clinical practice. It demonstrates that damaging sexual behaviors are often the result of a process in which a clinician progresses towards the crossing of a client-clinician boundary.

    Sexual Attraction in Therapy explores state-of-the art research from a multitude of related fields and includes sage advice on how to recognize personal risk factors, manage arousal, identify counterproductive sexual behaviors, and use self-talk to exit sexual situations. Sexual boundary violations usually follow a much longer insidious process and the book carefully discusses and highlights the warning signs for clinicians, which can develop into sexual predicaments affecting their lives and those of their clients, their workplaces and colleagues, and the reputation of the mental health field. Chapters provide essential guidance so that therapists can monitor progress along the ‘sexual decision cycle’ and, importantly, create organizations far more resistant to poor sexual decision-making.

    This text is an excellent teaching guide for clinicians and treatment professionals who seek therapeutic growth for both clients and themselves. Clinicians will be able to improve their decision-making and prevent themselves from engaging in damaging sexual behaviors, and organizations can redesign their approach to include preventative practices.

    Introduction: An Overview of the Problem 1. A Roadmap for Navigating the Risks of Therapy 2. The Boundary Violation Cycle 3. Risk and Vulnerability Factors 4. Managing Fantasies 5. Choosing: Talking Ourselves into (and out of) Sexual Predicaments 6. Using Clients to Meet Unfulfilled Needs 7. Boundary Crossings 8. Violations and Post-Violation Considerations 9. Education, Training, and Supervision 10. Organizational Change 11. Removal or Rehabilitation Conclusion: We’re All in this Together

    Biography

    Michael Shelton, MS, LPC, is a Professional Counselor and Professor in the Department of Psychology at Jefferson Medical College, USA.