Sexualization of therapeutic relationships: The dual vulnerability of patient and therapist.

Assessment and Development of Rehabilitation Plans for Counselors Who Have Sexually Exploited Their Clients

“…Masochistic and sadistic tendencies are cited by a few authors (Guy, 1987, p. 217;Smith, 1982). Some authors cite the influence of traditional societal roles of men and women (Brodsky, 1986;Holroyd & Brodsky, 1977;Zelen, 1985). While social roles would not explain specific situations in which a woman is the perpetrator, they are certainly a factor to help explain the disproportionate percentage of male perpetrators.…”

Sexual Contact Between Psychologists and Patients

“…This stress paves the way for the slippery slope of boundary violations wherein he attempts to seek comfort from the patient by sharing his vulnerability with his typically much younger female patient (Gabbard, 1991;Olarte, 1991). Of these violating therapists, 80% could not recall what led to the sexual encounter (Zelen, 1985). Pope (1990b) suggested that these clinicians "are well represented among the most prominent and respected mental health professionals" (p. 233).…”

Conceptualizing Pornographication

“…The term ''sexualization'' in social science research from the 1980s and 1990s often refers quite simply to making something sexual, usually something that might not commonly be considered as sexual. Examples of this usage include works noting and analyzing sexualized aspects of racism (Hodes, 1993;Hutchinson, 1999), power dynamics within prisons (Miller, 2000), corporal punishment (Butt & Hearn, 1998), and the sexualization of doctor-patient relationships (Zelen, 1985). As Jeffreys (2015) notes, the term sexualization is now more commonly used, whether it is acknowledged or not, in relation to ideas about sexual objectification.…”