Nonsexual Relationships Between Psychotherapists and Their Former Clients: Obligations of Psychologists

• Published in: Ethics & behavior Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 27 - 41
• Main Author: Pipes, Randolph B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc 01-01-1997
• Subjects: Attitude; Bioethics; Codes of Ethics; Consensus; Decision Making; Empirical Research; Ethical aspects; Ethics, Professional; Friends; Guidelines as Topic; Health Personnel; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Moral Obligations; Persons; Professional Misconduct; Professional-Patient Relations; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Reference Standards; Risk; Sexuality; Social Control, Informal; Social Responsibility; Societies; Societies, Scientific; Therapist-Client relationships; Time Factors; USA; Vulnerable Populations; Professional Patient Relationship; Mental Health Therapies; American Psychological Association
• ISSN: 1050-8422; 1532-7019
• DOI: 10.1207/s15327019eb0701_3

This article examines the issue of nonsexual relationships between psychologists and their former therapy clients. What little research is available concerning nonsexual relationships with former clients suggests that psychologists have clear reservations about some of these relationships, especially personal ones and intentional social interactions. Relationships immediately following termination are seen as particularly suspect. Drawing on the literature dealing with multiple relationships in general, and sexual relationships with former clients in particular, a number of arguments are made outlining why psychologists should avoid significant nonsexual relationships with former clients for at least some period of time following termination.