In response to your peers, provide strategies to address these ethical issues 

1# As a professional therapist, if I find myself attracted to a client, it would be  important for me to prioritize my professional ethics and boundaries. I would first acknowledge my own feelings and then seek consultation or supervision from a more experienced colleague or supervisor to gain guidance and support in handling this situation appropriately. It would be crucial for me as a therapist to maintain objectivity and provide a safe therapeutic environment for my  client. That’s the steps I would take if I found myself attracted to a client.

If a client reveals an attraction to me, I would respond in a professional and compassionate manner. I would validate the client’s feelings but clearly communicate that the therapeutic relationship is based on trust, confidentiality, and a focus on his/her well-being. I would emphasize the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and redirect the client’s attention back to their therapeutic goals and needs.

Question for the class: How can therapists effectively navigate and manage situations where there is a potential for attraction or romantic feelings to develop between themselves and their clients, while maintaining professional boundaries and ethical standards?

2# Sexual feelings and attraction towards a client is a natural occurrence with in the realms of human nature. This phenomenon is very common in work settings. How we handle those feelings with in a professional/work setting is a key aspect of managing these feelings. This could mean limiting the interaction, and avoiding any intimate setting when treating clients. How must we cope with the establishing boundaries for sexual attraction? When dealing with clients as a counselor, it is important to remain professional at all times, following the guidelines for Code Of Ethics. When dealing with these feelings, acknowledging these emotions is the first step in coping with the sexual tension, one may feel towards clients. The next and appropriate step is to seek counsel to gain clarity on how to resolve these feelings, and maintain a professional work decorum. By seeking counsel, you may be able to uncover some underlining issues that are causing these feeling, making it easier to understand why and how to properly deal with sexual attraction to a client, and keeping your feeling in check. If at this point, you find that these feeling are unresolved, you must end the professional relationship, in order to not cross the boundaries. Refer the client to another therapist.

In responding to a clients affection towards the counselor, It is still important to remain professional, and set clear boundaries for clients within the bonds of counseling. In the process, explain expectations to the client for boundaries. Make sure you take the necessary steps to not to offend or embarrass the client or make them feel unworthy of your services. Client often times find comfort in their therapist and seek their affection in the process of healing. Although, you want your clients to feel comfort around you, you do not want to create an uncomfortable work environment for yourself or the client. So handling this matter is important. If the steps or measure that you have taken to address are not followed by the client, you may need to seek other counseling for your client to protect your livelihood.