Patient-therapist sexual contact. II. Problems of subsequent psychotherapy

We use the catalogue of negative effects of sexual contact with the therapist (part I) to discuss the problems of subsequent therapy. Patient issues center around problems of trust, and anxiety and guilt around eventually exploring characterological issues involved in the sexual contact. From the therapist side (either as consultant or long-term therapist) problems include that of finding the best way of evaluating and understanding the patient's story (including its credibility); how to avoid repeating, in some new and disguised form, the previous therapist's counter-transference problems, and finally, the questions of if, when, and how is it therapeutic for the patient to report and press charges against the previous therapist. We recommend an ongoing role for the initial consultant in instances where such charges are to be pressed.