"Is There a Construct that May Able Prediction for Boundary Violations in Therapeutic Relationships?" - Where There is Smoke, There is Counter-Transference

Abstract

Exploitative behavior within the context of the therapeutic relationship is not only disruptive to the therapy but is also harmful to the client. If the violations of trust could be predicted, harmful behavior could potentially be stopped. The author examines various explanations for the existence of boundary transgressions as well as the elements that might be grouped to indicate the presence of a construct. Such a pattern would permit assessment of risk through valid and reliable tool development. It appears from the literature that there is no single set of defining characteristics that might be used to predict with any degree of certainty, the vulnerability of any particular therapeutic relationship to boundary violations. The author discusses what can be done to mitigate and prevent the damage caused by boundary violations within the therapeutic relationship.