Between the chair and the door: boundary issues in the therapeutic "transition zone"

Empirical and consultative experience reveals that damaging boundary violations begin insidiously and are progressive. During the segment of the therapy session that occurs "between the chair and the door," patients and therapists are more vulnerable to committing boundary excursions and violations. We suggest that inchoate boundary violations with a potential for damaging progression usually first appear within this interval. This part of the session can be scrutinized for early warning of boundary violations and studied for its instructive value in risk management and prevention of sexual misconduct.