ACA -CCPA 2016 Conference & Expo

ID #887-Counselor Attraction to Clients: Emphasizing Prevention and Proactive Measures (Room 210E, Poster 7)

03 Apr 16
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Tracks: Counselor Education, Professional Issues, Research

Speaker(s): Harvey Peters, Doctoral student, Syracuse University

The vast majority of mental health professionals report experiencing sexual attraction to a client; however, these same professionals report limited training or discussion regarding attraction beyond shaming. Attendees will explore a model aimed at protecting clients and preventing counselor-client sexual relationships through the normalization of attraction and education of ethical processes for addressing attraction when it occurs. Implications for counselor education and supervision will be discussed.