Out of Bounds: Sexual Exploitation in Counselling and Therapy (Hardcover)

`an excellent introduction to issues which should concern us all... This book has inspired and armed me with the practical strategies to lobby my Health Authority to address this issue by setting up training, reviewing the Complaints Procedure and considering a Clients' Charter' - Clinical Psychology Forum

`The author is to be applauded for venturing into the difficult and murky territory of sexual exploitation of clients by therapists and counsellors... The book is timely and welcome as it puts the issue of client exploitation on the agenda for the profession' - British Journal of Psychotherapy

`The sexual exploitation of clients in counselling and therapy has been recognised for a long time, but it is only recently, following recognition of the prevalence and destructive impact of childhood sexual abuse, that the problem is being addressed seriously... Russell proposes a model of therapeutic work which emphasises the therapist's/trainer's responsibility for clear boundary setting, the negotiation of a clear working contract, empowerment of the client, purposeful supervision of the therapist and clear rules for disengagement... the book is very readable... the author's enquiring and non-punitive stance towards sexual exploitation is admirable. She is concerned to identify and explore the problem without jumping to easy assumptions or misleading prescriptions... If this book is studied seriously by therapists and trainers, it could well challenge exploitative practice and prove to be a useful stimulus for discussion and enhanced standards of professional conduct' - Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health

`The belief that sexual exploitation of adults within a therapeutic relationship does not happen - at least not in this country - remains a myth. In this book Janice Russell successfully destroys that myth... her experience as a counsellor, supervisor and trainer combined with a background in sociology clearly informs her approach to the whole book. It is well structured, includes a useful summary at the end of each chapter and is very readable... She challenges us not only to explore and clarify the whole issue but also wants to orient the reader towards prevention, stressing that even friendliness can be interpreted by a client as feeling special to the counsellor - one of the potential danger signs for both counsellor and client. This book is essential reading for all those working in the helping professions - not just counsellors and therapists' - International Review of Psychiatry

`Russell gives an interesting insight into the client's perspective... her recommendations on the need to raise awareness of exploitation, on thorough supervision and on attention to complaints procedures are to be welcomed' - Journal of Interprofessional Care

`Russell is particularly illuminating on the rationales used by both therapists and clients to justify the sexual relationship, which when read in the context of the client's later feelings of exploitation demonstrate their limitations... offers information and insight into a comparatively neglected area of professional practice' - British Journal of Medical Psychology

`Russell's writing style effectively involves the reader in her work. She convincingly establishes a need for research on this issue and summarizes relevant information... Out of Bounds is an ambitious effort that has several important strengths. I appreciate Russell's efforts to investigate an important issue and to inform others about the sexual exploitation in therapeutic relations. I appreciate her courage in challenging the therapeutic professions in Great Britain to educate themselves and to develop strategies to regulate their professions' - Contemporary Psychology

The first part of the book discusses the different dimensions of sexually exploitative practice, overviewing contexts and concepts and examining the effects of sexual exploitation on clients. The author focuses on practitioners in their particular settings, looking at sexuality and power and how these are relevant within the therapeutic process. Russell draws on her own research with clients, relating her analysis to clients' own accounts of their experiences of sexual exploitation.

The second part of the book addresses the implications for actual practice. Russell discusses the ethical perspectives on the problem and reviews and evaluates current codes of professional practice. She outlines the models she has developed for understanding and working with sexuality and sexual abuse within counselling and psychotherapy, and for supervision as a process concerned both with practitioner development and client safety.