Therapeutic border violations in psychotherapy

A survey among Austrian psychotherapists and follow-up therapists of affected patients

Authors

  • Magdalena Schwabegger
  • Christiane Eichenberg

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30820/1664-9583-2022-1-77

Keywords:

Therapeutic border violations, sexual abuse, psychotherapy, follow-up therapy, online survey

Abstract

Approximately 10 % of all psychotherapists commit sexual violations and cross sexual boundaries in the context of psychotherapy. The aim of the study was to show the consequences of those affected and the therapeutic treatment of follow-up therapists. 330 Austrian psychotherapists were asked about their experiences and their therapeutic treatment of patients, who had experienced sexual transgressions in previous therapies by using a self-designed questionnaire. Every sixth therapist who was interviewed (16.1 %, n = 53) has already been consulted by patients who have experienced sexual violations. In all reported cases, the sexual contact with psychotherapists entailed harmful consequences up to traumatization. Contrary to the recommended rules, the majority of the respondents indicated a procedure that did not initially focus on the effects of violations of sexual transgressions in the context of psychotherapy. Crossing sexual boundaries in the context of psychotherapy should be made a compulsory subject of training and further education. The results provide indications for related contents.

Author Biographies

Magdalena Schwabegger

Magdalena Schwabegger, MSc., hat Psychologie mit dem Schwerpunkt Klinische Psychologie an der Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversität in Wien und Berlin studiert. Derzeit ist sie als Klinische Psychologin in Ausbildung im Klinikum Anton Proksch Institut in Wien tätig.

Christiane Eichenberg

Christiane Eichenberg, Univ.-Prof. Dr. phil. habil., Dipl.-Psych., ist Psychoanalytikerin und Leiterin des Instituts für Psychosomatik an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversität in Wien.
077-085 31179

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How to Cite

Schwabegger, M., & Eichenberg, C. (2022). Therapeutic border violations in psychotherapy: A survey among Austrian psychotherapists and follow-up therapists of affected patients. Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, 12(1), 77–85. https://doi.org/10.30820/1664-9583-2022-1-77

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2022): Evaluation von Psychotherapieverläufen

Section

Original Work

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