Deck 7: Sexual Misconduct: Violations of Power and Trust

Question 1

Identify at least 3 different ways in which therapist sexual misconduct harms clients.

Answer 1

No Answer

Question 2

How should a responsible counselor or therapist deal with feelings of sexual attraction toward a client?

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

Kenneth Pope has identified a set of symptoms he believes clients typically experience after sexual contact with a mental health professional. Please identify at least five of these symptoms and discuss the cautions about this syndrome that other scholars have noted in the professional literature.

Answer 3

No Answer

Question 4

Sexual contact with former clients is one of the most controversial issues in the field.Describe the position of the APA and ACA codes on this topic and at least three reasons some scholars disagree strongly with this position.

Question 5

What is the position of the codes of ethics on sexual contact with students and supervisees and what does the research evidence show about how frequently this standard is violated?

Question 6

Under what conditions is nonerotic touch, such as a hug, permissible between a counselor and a client?

Question 7

Epstein and Simon have listed a number of signals that warn professionals that they may be at risk for sexually exploiting a client. Identify at least 3 of these signals.

Question 8

Which of the following has been shown by the literature to be a factor that increases client vulnerability to sexual exploitation by a therapist:

A) The client has been in counseling at least once in prior life stages
B) The client is a survivor of sexual abuse
C) The client has recently suffered a major psychological trauma such a robbery and physical assault
D) All of the above

Question 9

The "therapist-patient sex syndrome:

A) Has recently been added to the DSM as a diagnostic category
B) Includes an experience of sexual confusion about one's own sexual identity
C) Is experienced by victims within one year of the therapist sexual exploitation
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 10

Mandated reporting of therapist and counseling sexual misconduct:

A) Applies only to cases of child exploitation in states that have this statute
B) Does not require client consent in most states
C) Allows for anonymous reporting in most states
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 11

Research shows that:

A) Fewer female therapists are guilty of sexual misconduct than male therapists
B) Faculty and supervisors engage in sexual misconduct with trainees at a higher rate than therapists with clients
C) Research data suggest that sexual misconduct occurs less frequently among social workers than psychiatrists
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 12

Rehabilitation of therapists who have been found guilty of sexual misconduct:

A) Is a major emphasis of licensing boards and ethics committees
B) Is effective in reducing the risk of future misconduct in most studies
C) Typically includes a lengthy suspension from practice as a professional
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 13

The part of the codes that stipulates that sexual contact with former clients may be permissible after several years is controversial because:

A) Former clients are more likely to file charges for the contact than current clients
B) Sexual contact with former clients is more harmful than sexual contact with current clients
C) Clients lose their right to confidentiality of their records once they begin a personal relationship with their former therapist
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 14

Determining whether nonerotic touch is appropriate in counseling depends upon:

A) The age and gender of the client
B) The presenting problem and diagnosis of the client
C) The experience level of the therapist or counseling
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 15

According to the professional literature, counselors who see clients whose past therapists have sexually exploited them may experience:

A) Disbelief at the client's comments about the former therapist
B) Excitement at the prospect of helping the client recover from the trauma
C) Worry about being sued by the former therapist
D) All of the above
E) None of the above