Therapists at Risk: Perils of the Intimacy of the Therapeutic Relationship - Hardcover

Hedges, Lawrence E.; Hilton, Robert; Hilton, Virginia S.; Caudill Jr. Jr., Brandt O.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1568218273 ISBN 13: 9781568218274

Publisher: Jason Aronson Publishers, 1977

Synopsis

Dr. Hedges and his co-authors highlight the leading ethical and legal dilemmas in therapy today, the management of malpractice exposure, the nature of memories and recovered memories and the causes of real and perceived abuse, the trauma of psychotic transference and how to acknowledge and deal safely with sexuality, the plight of the accused therapist and his/her response to the attendant stress, and the nightmare of legal claims and suits and the importance of support for the therapist. This book seeks to help clarify the issues, manage the dangers, and restore confidence in the psychotherapy process for clinicians who are experiencing fear, constriction, and loss of satisfaction in their work.

About this title

Review

This book clearly offers many interesting and helpful ideas. The authors draw on their experiences, expertise, insights, and opinions to confront a very difficult and time-sensitive subject. The outcome is both generous and valuable.--Contemporary Psychology: The Apa Review Of Books

Synopsis

Therapists are at risk, and the risk is increasing. Well-meaning practitioners used to believe that if they were adhering to ethical codes, and doing their best, they didn't have to worry about being sued or brought before a licensing board. But numerous well-publicized cases, and even more settled outside the limelight of the press have changed all that. Therapists are now worried, and rightfully so. And all of this has happened at the same time that therapists are learning better ways to help very troubled patients who have often been severely abused and traumatized. Though these patients often require less rigid and more personal and creative approaches that may deviate from some proposed norm, they are also most often those who threaten legal action against their therapists. How does one engage intensely with these patients without being drawn into potentially destructive countertransference enactments? How does one remain a creative, spontaneous and helpful therapist while avoiding being pulled into a voracious and inhuman legal system? These are a few of the important questions addressed by this book.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jason Aronson Publishers
• Publication date: 1977
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1568218273
• ISBN 13: 9781568218274
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 328