I am undergraduate in the mental health field, and went to see a therapist for an unusual situation (church related); I fell in love with him and 7 years later I feel the same. Too long of a story to go into here. Unfortunately he led me on, sexualized our relatiionship, etc. etc. I contacted the TELL network years ago and once again a few weeks ago and have read many many books on the issue. I hve spoken to and e-mailed the responders on the TELL (exploitation) website; they have a wealth of information. Unfortunately the mental health community doesn't police their own, and since this all happens behind closed doors, no one (even in all of the studies) really knows how many therapists cross the lines.

The general public doesn't understand the dynamics between client and therapist and when seeing a therapist for the first time, we have no idea what to expect and usually trust them. "Sex in the Forbidden Zone" by Peter Rutter is one excellent resource; it gives a "snapshot" of a therapist on the "slippery slope" to behaving unethically.

I think every therapist office (or therapist) upon intake should discuss transference......just a fancy word for feelings (unless you are speaking of the Freudian).......transference/counter.....is present in all relationshps. If a client understood that powerful, strong, loving feelings can happen in therapy for many reasons, they wouldn't be so confused and perhaps be encouraged to discuss them when they DO come up. Okay, off my soapbox for now, LOL

Nicole