Women sexually victimized in psychotherapy speak out: The dynamics and outcome of therapist-client sex

Irit Nachmani, Eli Somer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The present study was a result of an extraordinary opportunity to interview 23 women patients who had sexual relations with their therapists. The paper presents the phenomenological viewpoint of therapist-client sex (TCS) from the victims' perspectives. Patients were asked to describe their emotional experiences during the misguided therapy period. They depicted a sense of ambivalence towards TCS that included feelings of dependency, helplessness, and powerlessness, along with feelings of being chosen and achieving control over the therapist. The former victims' accounts revealed both short- and long-term emotional harm.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-17
Number of pages17
JournalWomen and Therapy
Volume30
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 27 Apr 2007

Keywords

  • Psychotherapy
  • Sexual exploitation
  • Therapist-client sex
  • Women

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gender Studies
  • General Psychology

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