Sexual misconduct in psychotherapy: reactions to a consumer-oriented brochure

Reactions of subjects to a brochure addressing the topic of sexual intimacy in psychotherapy was assessed. Fifty-four psychotherapy clients and 52 licensed psychologists responded favorably to the brochure, with the majority indicating that the brochure should be made available before therapy begins or during the first session. Potential clients (120 college students) read either the brochure on sexual misconduct or a control brochure containing general information about psychology. Subjects who read the sexual misconduct brochure showed increased ability to understand what is appropriate and inappropriate therapist behavior, see unwanted touch as nontherapeutic, regard a therapist talking a lot about his or her own sex life as inappropriate, view sex in the therapeutic relationship as inappropriate, and intend to behave assertively within the session if their therapist's behavior should make them feel uncomfortable. Subjects who read the control brochure showed no such changes.