Ethics: Counseling as an Emotional Experience

1. BEHAVIORS The following data is selected from several national studies of psychologists, social workers, and other mental health professionals regarding behavior in counseling, as cited in Pope & Vasquez (1998). The data indicate the number of therapists who indicated at least ONE instance of each behavior.

Behavior	Percent Reporting Behavior
1. Disclosing details of current personal stresses to client	39%
2. Telling a client you are angry at him/her	90%
3. Raising your voice in anger	78%
4. Anger fantasies about client	63%
5. Feeling hatred toward client	31%
6. Feeling afraid that colleagues will be critical of your work with a client	88%
7. Cradling client on your lap	9%
8. Telling client a sexual fantasy	6%
9. Engaging in sexual fantasy about a client	72%
10. Feeling sexually attracted to a client	90%
11. Client tells you that he/she is attracted to you	73%
12. Feeling sexually aroused in the presence of a client	58%
13. A client becomes sexually aroused in your presence	48%
14. Having sex with a client	Men range: 4 - 12% Women Range: >1 to 3%

2. COUNSELORS BRING SOMETHING TO THE WORK THEY DO

Abuse	Percentage of Men Counselors Reporting this happened to them	Percentage of Women Counselors Reporting this happened to them
1. Sexual abuse during childhood or adoloscence	6%	25%
2. Non-sexual physical abuse during childhood or adoloscence	13%	9%
3. Sexual harrassment during adulthood	2%	38%
4. Attempted rape during adulthood	>1%	13%
5. Sexual involvement with therapist/counselor during adulthood	2%	5%

3 PRIMARY REASONS FOR ATTRACTION TO CLIENTS

Physical attractiveness, positive mental/cognitive traits, sexual feelings, vulnerabilities, positive character.