Responding Therapeutically to Patient Expression of Sexual Attraction

Although psychotherapists often encounter sexual and loving feelings in therapeutic relationships, specific training on sexual dilemmas and boundary issues is often absent from graduate coursework for mental health professionals. This video demonstrates an assortment of skilled therapist responses to a patient's expressions of sexual attraction in the course of ongoing psychological treatment.

The six vignettes are designed to stimulate discussion of preferred responses to ethically challenging situations. Designed for clinical training, this video is appropriate for workshops or individual study for the professional development of practicing clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, counselors, and graduate psychology students.

This video features clients portrayed by actors skilled in improvisation, on the basis of actual case material. The therapists had not been briefed in advance on the nature of the scenario being acted out, so their responses are spontaneous and unrehearsed.

APA Videos

• Working With Men Survivors of Trauma and Abuse
• Laura S. Brown

APA Books

• Dream Work in Therapy: Facilitating Exploration, Insight, and Action
  Edited by Clara E. Hill
• What Therapists Don't Talk About and Why: Understanding Taboos That Hurt Us and Our Clients
  Kenneth S. Pope, Janet L. Sonne, and Beverly Greene