Sexual Abuse in Therapy: Gender Issues

Abstract

Objective: That sexual abuse in therapy occurs predominantly with male per- petrators and female patients is a phenomenon that requires analysis in terms of gender relations. Such an analysis is undertaken here from the perspective of feminist psychoanalytic and psychosocial theories. Method: Data informing the analysis are derived from assessments of 40 women who experienced sexual abuse in therapy. These women had mostly presented with depression, 68% had a history of childhood abuse, and one half were themselves helping professionals. Results: The majority were seriously damaged by the abusive therapy. Offenders were chiefly male (90%) and most were senior, well-qualified therapists of high status: some were charismatic leaders or teachers. Such a group cannot be dismissed as marginal, deviant, or Ill-informed; a more systemic analysis is necessary to understand how the professions spawn and some- times protect offenders. Conclusion: It is concluded that the professional culture mirrors fundamental problems of gender relations that inhere in the larger socio-cultural context where they are expressed in various forms of sexual abuse and violence. A cultural change requires better education on issues of power and sexual politics.