How Clients are Harmed by Sexual Contact with Mental Health Professionals: The Syndrome and its Prevalence

Discusses the prevalence, varieties, contributing factors & consequences of sexual relationships btwn counselors & clients. Sexual contact in the therapist-client relationship may form a distinct syndrome. Symptoms of this syndrome include guilt; feelings of emptiness and isolation; sexual confusion; impaired ability to trust; identity; boundary & role confusion; emotional lability; suppressed rage; increased suicidal risk & congnitive dysfunction involving concentration & attention.