Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects
Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Family Therapy
Advisor
Shelley Green
Committee Member
James Hibel
Committee Member
Christine Beliard
Abstract
The client-therapist relationship is an essential part of therapy and is central in helping clients achieve therapeutic goals as the joining process facilitates the change process. However, in an effort to create a space for change, there is a possibility that professional boundaries may become blurred wherein a client may express a sexual attraction toward their therapist. To explore this phenomenon, the researcher employed convergent parallel mixed method design to explore the experiences of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) who have experienced sexual attraction from their clients. The study was conducted online through a secure forum. Implications for clients, therapists, and the field of marriage and family therapy are discussed. The research suggests that education and training are critical in assisting therapists when dealing with sexual attraction issues.
NSUWorks Citation
Rafiah Prince. 2016. Sexual Attraction in the Therapy Room: An Exploration of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists’ Experiences and Training. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Family Therapy. (13)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dft_etd/13.
Included in
Counselor Education Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons