Breaking the Legacy of Silence: A Feminist Perspective on Therapist Attraction to Clients
Views on therapists- attraction have influenced the ethical and professional development of the mental health fields. Because the majority of therapist attraction literature (63.6%) has been conducted from a psychoanalytic standpoint, approaches to attraction from feminist perspectives have not been adequately developed. Considering the lack of a feminist voice regarding attraction, this article attempts to offer a feminist perspective on this issue. The purpose of this article is to offer a feminist perspective on the phenomenon of attraction in order to raise awareness about the importance of power inequalities, intersectionalities, contextual variables and the need for action in the field.
[1] American Psychological Association. Ethical standards of Psychologists
(Rev. ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author, 1977. (a)
[2] American Psychological Association. Standards for providers of
psychological services. Author, 1977. (b)
[3] Beauvoir, S. d. (1989). The Second Sex, trans. H. M. Parshley, New
York: Vintage Books.
[4] Bernsen, A., Tabachnick, B. G, & Pope, K.S. (1994). National survey of
social workers' sexual attraction to their clients: Results, implications,
and comparison to psychologists. Ethics & Behavior, 4, 369-388.
doi:10.1207/s15327019eb0404
[5] Brayner, I. A. (1996). Erotic transference and countertransference in the
analysis of children and adolescents: Aggressivity and eroticism.
RevistaBrasileira de Psicanalise ,30,4, 1147-1156. Retrieved from
http://www.datenschlag.org/english/bisam/year/index.html
[6] Cantor, J.R., Zillmann, D., & Bryant, J. (1975) Enhancement of
Experienced Sexual Arousal in Response to Erotic Stimuli Through
Misattribution of Unrelated Residual Excitation. Journal of Personality
and Social Psychology, 32, 69-75. doi: 10.1037/h0076784
[7] Corey, G. (2008). Theory and Practice: Counseling and Psychotherapy.
Belmont, CA: Cenage Learning.
[8] Davies, J. M. (1994). Love in the afternoon: A relational reconsideration
of desire and dread in the countertransference. Psychoanalytic
Dialogues,4, 153-170.doi:10.1080/10481889409539011
[9] Drescher, J. (1996). Across the great divide: Gender panic in the analytic
dyad.Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy, 13,2, 174-186. Retrieved from
http://journalseek.net
[10] Dunne, C. (2000).Carl Jung: wounded healer of the soul: an illustrated
biography. New York: Parabola Books.
[11] Dutton, D. G &Aron, A. P. (1974). Some evidence for heightened sexual
attraction under conditions of high anxiety.Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology, 30, 510-517. doi:10.1037/h0037031
[12] Ellis, M. V &Douce, L. A. (1994). Group supervision of novice clinical
supervisors: Eight recurring issues. Journal of Counseling &
Development, 72,5, 520-525. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com
[13] Elliott, S, Loewenthal, D. & Greenwood, D. (2007).Narrative research
into erotic countertransference in a female therapist-male patient
encounter.Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, 21, 233-249.
doi:10.1080/02668730701535594
[14] Enns, Z. C. (2010).Locational Feminisms and Feminist Social Identity
Analysis.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice American
Psychological Association41,4, 333- 339. doi: 10.1037/a0020260
[15] Fisher, C. D. (2004). Ethical Issues in Therapy: Therapist Self-
Disclosure of Sexual Feelings.Ethics & Behavior.,14,2,105-121.
Retrieved from http://www.tandf.co.uk
[16] Gabbard, G. O. (1994). Sexual excitement and countertransference love
in the analyst. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association,
42,4, 1083-1106. Retrieved from http://apa.sagepub.com/
[17] Gorton, G. E & Samuel, S. E. (1997). A course for residents on sexual
feelings and boundary maintenance in treatment: Reply. Academic
Psychiatry, 21,3, 167-168. doi: 10.1037/0735-7028.29.1.86
[18] Harris, S. M. (2001). Teaching family therapists about sexual attraction
in therapy.Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 27,1, 123-128. doi:
10.1111/j.1752-0606.2001.tb01145.x
[19] Hoffer, A., Barron, J. W. (1994). Historical events reinforcing Freud's
emphasis on "holding down the countertransference."The
Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 63,3, 200-217. Retrieved from
http://www.psaq.org/
[20] Jorstad, J. (2002). Erotic countertransference: Hazards, challenges and
therapeutic potentials. The Scandinavian Psychoanalytic Review, 25,2,
117-134. Retrieved from http://journalseek.net/
[21] Lane, R. (1995). Incomplete mourning, betrayal, and revenge in The
Prince of Tides: Erotic countertransference in the cinema. Journal of
Contemporary Psychotherapy, 25, 123-134. doi:10.1007/BF02306686
[22] Lorde, Audre (1984). Sisters Outside.Berkely: Crossing Press.
[23] Ludvig, A. (2006). Differences Between Women? Intersecting Voices in
a Female Narrative. European Journal of Women's Studies,13, 245-
256.doi: 10.1177/1350506806065755
[24] Maines, R. P. (1998). The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the
Vibrator, and Women-s Sexual Satisfaction. Baltimore: The John
Hopkins University Press.
[25] Mann, D. (1995). Erotic transference and countertransference: Clinical
practice in psychotherapy. London: Routledge.
[26] Maroda, K. J. (2000). On homoeroticism, erotic countertransference and
the postmodern view of life: A commentary on papers by Rosiello,
Tholfsen, and Meyers. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy, 4, 61-
70. doi:10.1300/J236v04n02_05
[27] Masters, W. H., & Johnson, V. E. (1976). Principles of the new sex
therapy. American Journal of Psychiatry,133, 5, 548-554. Retrieved
from http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1976-21000-001
[28] Nickell, N. J, Hecker, L., Rose, E. &Bercik, J. (1995). Marriage and
family therapists' sexual attraction to clients: An exploratory study.
American Journal of Family Therapy, 23, 315-327.
doi:10.1080/01926189508251362
[29] Ponce, D. (1993). Erotic countertransference issues in a residential
treatment center. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth,11, 107-
123. doi:10.1300/J007v11n02_08
[30] Pope, K. S., &Bouhoutsos, J. C. (1986). Sexual intimacies between
therapists and patients. New York: Praeger/Greenwood.
[31] Pope, S. K., Spiegel, K., Tabachnick, P. G. B. (1986). Sexual Attraction
to Clients: The Human Therapist and the (Sometimes) Inhuman Training
System. American Psychologist, 41,147-58.doi: 10.1037/1931-
3918.S.2.96
[32] Pope, K., Sonne, J. & Holroyd, J. (1993). Frequent reactions to sexual
feelings in therapy: Explorations for therapists and therapists-in-training.
American Psychological Association, 3,79-101.doi:10.1037/10124-006
[33] Rosiello, F. (2000). On lust and loathing: Erotic
transference/countertransference between a female analyst and female
patients. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy, 4, 5-26.
doi:10.1300/J236v04n02_02
[34] Rutter, P. (1989). Sex in the forbidden zone when men in powertherapists,
doctors, clergy, teachers and others-betray Women-s Trust.
Los Angeles:Jeremy P. Tarcher Inc.
[35] Schover, L. R. (1981). Male and female therapists' responses to male and
female client sexual material: An analogue study. Archives of Sexual
Behavior, 10, 477-492. doi:10.1007/BF01541584
[36] Sehl, M. R. (1998). Erotic countertransference and clinical social work
practice: A national survey of psychotherapists' sexual feelings,
attitudes, and responses. Journal of Analytic Social Work, 5,4, 39-55.
doi:10.1207/s15327019eb0404_4
[37] Shapiro, S. A. (2010). Clinical realism versus the seductions of universal
theory: Discussion of Celenza's "The guilty pleasure of erotic
countertransference: Searching for radial true." Studies in Gender and
Sexuality, 11, 192-199. doi:10.1080/15240657.2010.513230
[38] Sherman, E. (2002). Homoerotic Countertransference: The Love That
Dare Not Speak Its Name? Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 12, 649-666.
doi:10.1080/10481881209348697
[39] Solomon, M. F. (1997). On love and lust in the
countertransference.Journal of the American Academy of
Psychoanalysis, 25,1, 71-90.doi: 10.1177/000306519404200203
[40] Tansey, M. J. (1994). Sexual attraction and phobic dread in the
countertransference.Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 4, 139-152.
doi:10.1080/10481889409539010
[41] Wrye, H., K. & Welles, J. K. (1994). The narration of desire: Erotic
transferences and countertransferences. Hillsdale, NJ, England:
Analytic Press, Inc, England.
[1] American Psychological Association. Ethical standards of Psychologists
(Rev. ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author, 1977. (a)
[2] American Psychological Association. Standards for providers of
psychological services. Author, 1977. (b)
[3] Beauvoir, S. d. (1989). The Second Sex, trans. H. M. Parshley, New
York: Vintage Books.
[4] Bernsen, A., Tabachnick, B. G, & Pope, K.S. (1994). National survey of
social workers' sexual attraction to their clients: Results, implications,
and comparison to psychologists. Ethics & Behavior, 4, 369-388.
doi:10.1207/s15327019eb0404
[5] Brayner, I. A. (1996). Erotic transference and countertransference in the
analysis of children and adolescents: Aggressivity and eroticism.
RevistaBrasileira de Psicanalise ,30,4, 1147-1156. Retrieved from
http://www.datenschlag.org/english/bisam/year/index.html
[6] Cantor, J.R., Zillmann, D., & Bryant, J. (1975) Enhancement of
Experienced Sexual Arousal in Response to Erotic Stimuli Through
Misattribution of Unrelated Residual Excitation. Journal of Personality
and Social Psychology, 32, 69-75. doi: 10.1037/h0076784
[7] Corey, G. (2008). Theory and Practice: Counseling and Psychotherapy.
Belmont, CA: Cenage Learning.
[8] Davies, J. M. (1994). Love in the afternoon: A relational reconsideration
of desire and dread in the countertransference. Psychoanalytic
Dialogues,4, 153-170.doi:10.1080/10481889409539011
[9] Drescher, J. (1996). Across the great divide: Gender panic in the analytic
dyad.Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy, 13,2, 174-186. Retrieved from
http://journalseek.net
[10] Dunne, C. (2000).Carl Jung: wounded healer of the soul: an illustrated
biography. New York: Parabola Books.
[11] Dutton, D. G &Aron, A. P. (1974). Some evidence for heightened sexual
attraction under conditions of high anxiety.Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology, 30, 510-517. doi:10.1037/h0037031
[12] Ellis, M. V &Douce, L. A. (1994). Group supervision of novice clinical
supervisors: Eight recurring issues. Journal of Counseling &
Development, 72,5, 520-525. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com
[13] Elliott, S, Loewenthal, D. & Greenwood, D. (2007).Narrative research
into erotic countertransference in a female therapist-male patient
encounter.Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, 21, 233-249.
doi:10.1080/02668730701535594
[14] Enns, Z. C. (2010).Locational Feminisms and Feminist Social Identity
Analysis.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice American
Psychological Association41,4, 333- 339. doi: 10.1037/a0020260
[15] Fisher, C. D. (2004). Ethical Issues in Therapy: Therapist Self-
Disclosure of Sexual Feelings.Ethics & Behavior.,14,2,105-121.
Retrieved from http://www.tandf.co.uk
[16] Gabbard, G. O. (1994). Sexual excitement and countertransference love
in the analyst. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association,
42,4, 1083-1106. Retrieved from http://apa.sagepub.com/
[17] Gorton, G. E & Samuel, S. E. (1997). A course for residents on sexual
feelings and boundary maintenance in treatment: Reply. Academic
Psychiatry, 21,3, 167-168. doi: 10.1037/0735-7028.29.1.86
[18] Harris, S. M. (2001). Teaching family therapists about sexual attraction
in therapy.Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 27,1, 123-128. doi:
10.1111/j.1752-0606.2001.tb01145.x
[19] Hoffer, A., Barron, J. W. (1994). Historical events reinforcing Freud's
emphasis on "holding down the countertransference."The
Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 63,3, 200-217. Retrieved from
http://www.psaq.org/
[20] Jorstad, J. (2002). Erotic countertransference: Hazards, challenges and
therapeutic potentials. The Scandinavian Psychoanalytic Review, 25,2,
117-134. Retrieved from http://journalseek.net/
[21] Lane, R. (1995). Incomplete mourning, betrayal, and revenge in The
Prince of Tides: Erotic countertransference in the cinema. Journal of
Contemporary Psychotherapy, 25, 123-134. doi:10.1007/BF02306686
[22] Lorde, Audre (1984). Sisters Outside.Berkely: Crossing Press.
[23] Ludvig, A. (2006). Differences Between Women? Intersecting Voices in
a Female Narrative. European Journal of Women's Studies,13, 245-
256.doi: 10.1177/1350506806065755
[24] Maines, R. P. (1998). The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the
Vibrator, and Women-s Sexual Satisfaction. Baltimore: The John
Hopkins University Press.
[25] Mann, D. (1995). Erotic transference and countertransference: Clinical
practice in psychotherapy. London: Routledge.
[26] Maroda, K. J. (2000). On homoeroticism, erotic countertransference and
the postmodern view of life: A commentary on papers by Rosiello,
Tholfsen, and Meyers. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy, 4, 61-
70. doi:10.1300/J236v04n02_05
[27] Masters, W. H., & Johnson, V. E. (1976). Principles of the new sex
therapy. American Journal of Psychiatry,133, 5, 548-554. Retrieved
from http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1976-21000-001
[28] Nickell, N. J, Hecker, L., Rose, E. &Bercik, J. (1995). Marriage and
family therapists' sexual attraction to clients: An exploratory study.
American Journal of Family Therapy, 23, 315-327.
doi:10.1080/01926189508251362
[29] Ponce, D. (1993). Erotic countertransference issues in a residential
treatment center. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth,11, 107-
123. doi:10.1300/J007v11n02_08
[30] Pope, K. S., &Bouhoutsos, J. C. (1986). Sexual intimacies between
therapists and patients. New York: Praeger/Greenwood.
[31] Pope, S. K., Spiegel, K., Tabachnick, P. G. B. (1986). Sexual Attraction
to Clients: The Human Therapist and the (Sometimes) Inhuman Training
System. American Psychologist, 41,147-58.doi: 10.1037/1931-
3918.S.2.96
[32] Pope, K., Sonne, J. & Holroyd, J. (1993). Frequent reactions to sexual
feelings in therapy: Explorations for therapists and therapists-in-training.
American Psychological Association, 3,79-101.doi:10.1037/10124-006
[33] Rosiello, F. (2000). On lust and loathing: Erotic
transference/countertransference between a female analyst and female
patients. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy, 4, 5-26.
doi:10.1300/J236v04n02_02
[34] Rutter, P. (1989). Sex in the forbidden zone when men in powertherapists,
doctors, clergy, teachers and others-betray Women-s Trust.
Los Angeles:Jeremy P. Tarcher Inc.
[35] Schover, L. R. (1981). Male and female therapists' responses to male and
female client sexual material: An analogue study. Archives of Sexual
Behavior, 10, 477-492. doi:10.1007/BF01541584
[36] Sehl, M. R. (1998). Erotic countertransference and clinical social work
practice: A national survey of psychotherapists' sexual feelings,
attitudes, and responses. Journal of Analytic Social Work, 5,4, 39-55.
doi:10.1207/s15327019eb0404_4
[37] Shapiro, S. A. (2010). Clinical realism versus the seductions of universal
theory: Discussion of Celenza's "The guilty pleasure of erotic
countertransference: Searching for radial true." Studies in Gender and
Sexuality, 11, 192-199. doi:10.1080/15240657.2010.513230
[38] Sherman, E. (2002). Homoerotic Countertransference: The Love That
Dare Not Speak Its Name? Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 12, 649-666.
doi:10.1080/10481881209348697
[39] Solomon, M. F. (1997). On love and lust in the
countertransference.Journal of the American Academy of
Psychoanalysis, 25,1, 71-90.doi: 10.1177/000306519404200203
[40] Tansey, M. J. (1994). Sexual attraction and phobic dread in the
countertransference.Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 4, 139-152.
doi:10.1080/10481889409539010
[41] Wrye, H., K. & Welles, J. K. (1994). The narration of desire: Erotic
transferences and countertransferences. Hillsdale, NJ, England:
Analytic Press, Inc, England.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:54908", author = "Renata Carneiro and Jody Russon and Allena Moncrief and Erica Wilkins", title = "Breaking the Legacy of Silence: A Feminist Perspective on Therapist Attraction to Clients", abstract = "Views on therapists- attraction have influenced the ethical and professional development of the mental health fields. Because the majority of therapist attraction literature (63.6%) has been conducted from a psychoanalytic standpoint, approaches to attraction from feminist perspectives have not been adequately developed. Considering the lack of a feminist voice regarding attraction, this article attempts to offer a feminist perspective on this issue. The purpose of this article is to offer a feminist perspective on the phenomenon of attraction in order to raise awareness about the importance of power inequalities, intersectionalities, contextual variables and the need for action in the field.
", keywords = "attraction, feminism, power inequality, silence", volume = "6", number = "6", pages = "1269-4", }