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Can Engaging in Sexual Relations with a Client Be Beneficial in Ohio

Tzvi H. Y. Tabakman

Bellevue University

MCC501 Helping Relationships and Orientation to the Counseling Profession

Professor Amy Runcorn

February 26, 2024

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Abstract

Engaging in sexual relations with clients is unequivocally unethical and harmful,

especially for psychologists practising in Ohio. A study by Butler and Williams, published in

August 1985, examined ethical violations and revealed alarming findings from hearings

conducted by the Ohio State Board of Psychology. Among the 559 patients reviewed, 90% were

harmed by such unethical behaviour. The study highlighted that most implicated psychologists

were male and lacked education from APA-accredited programs, raising concerns about the

adequacy of their training. This issue aligns with my observations of unqualified individuals,

such as rabbis and teachers, attempting to provide therapy without proper training, which leads to

harm.

The article emphasizes the importance of formal education and adherence to ethical

standards, advocating for professional training to prevent such violations. It also critiques the

ACA Code of Ethics, particularly section C.3.F, which allows counsellor educators to promote

textbooks they have authored, viewing it as exploitative and unethical. The need for stricter

regulations and the removal of individuals who exploit their positions of power is stressed to

protect vulnerable students and ensure ethical practices in the field.

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Can Engaging in Sexual Relations with a Client Be Beneficial in Ohio

The short answer is no; the detailed response emphatically stresses that it is absolutely,

definitely not beneficial for psychologists to engage in sexual relationships with their clients

while in Ohio. I recently came across a study published in August 1985 in Ohio examining the

ethical violations of psychologists, mainly focusing on cases where doctors engaged in

relationships with their clients. This study involved the hearings of the Ohio State Board of

Psychology and revealed several intriguing findings. Among the 559 patients reviewed, an

alarming 90% were found to have been harmed.

A significant detail that caught my attention was that most implicated doctors were male,

primarily treating female patients. This aspect of the paper led me to ponder whether this gender

disparity reflected the broader demographic trends in psychology at the time, raising questions

about whether the issue was inherently about gender. According to Butler & Williams, "10 out of

11 were male" (Butler & Williams, 1985, p. 509).

Another commonality among the psychologists was that "not one had graduated from an

APA-accredited doctoral program" (Butler & Williams, 1985, p. 509). This detail holds particular

relevance for me as I pursue a clinical and mental health counsellor career without graduating

from an APA-accredited program, leading me to contemplate the implications for my

professional path.

One aspect of the article that struck a chord with me was its discussion on individuals

providing healthcare without proper training. I come from a background in Rabbinics and

education, where I've repeatedly observed rabbis and teachers attempting to act as therapists

without adequate training. I've witnessed firsthand some of the harm it hascaused my students.
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The phrase I wish were more commonly expressed is, "Thank you for sharing. I am not qualified

to help you, but let me put you in touch with someone who is."

The article was written during a period of relaxed regulations, with individuals freely

practicing without much oversight, and some needed more formal training entirely. There was

even a provision known as the "Grandfather clause." "Grandfather licensing was granted based

on education and experience without requiring examination procedures. For doctoral-level

psychologists, licensing under the Grandfather clause was permitted up until 1979" (Butler &

Williams, 1985).

I believe the question of how a beginning counsellor can avoid the unethical action of

engaging in sexual relationships with their patients doesn't require extensive exploration.

In my view, as long as the counsellor maintains a healthy and independent sex life and leads

a healthy lifestyle, they're unlikely to abuse their power. The article suggested that many

professionals believed they were aiding their patients, highlighting why I strongly advocate

for professional training. While I mentioned that the program I am enrolled in for clinical

and mental health counselling is not APA-accredited, I didn't clarify that the APA does not

accredit master's level programs. However, attending a program with proper accreditation

that emphasizes the importance of reading and understanding the ACA Code of Ethics and

providing a comprehensive understanding of mental health treatment makes it easy for any

dedicated professional to avoid such ethical violations. Addressing those who aren't committed

to helping patients requires a different discussion.

Regarding the ACA Code of Ethics, the most critical section is “C.3.F Promoting to

Those Served” (Association, 2014, p. 9). I view this rule as a disturbing violation of ethics that
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should be changed as soon as possible. It appears to originate from a place of power, with

individuals wanting to exploit that power. In my opinion, the only reason for its inclusion is

greedy individuals seeking to earn extra money on the side, unwilling to forego that revenue

stream. Students are in a vulnerable position, and professionals worldwide take advantage of

them; this provision allows for such exploitation.

“However, counsellor educators may adopt textbooks they have authored for instructional

purposes.” (Association, 2014, pg.9). The reality is that students, already burdened by the

astronomical costs of studying psychology or clinical counselling, are compelled by professors to

buy textbooks these professors have written themselves is downright exploitative. This situation

worsens when these professors churn out "new" editions annually with minimal updates, forcing

a fresh batch of students to shell out more money for the same content. This practice is not just

unethical; it's a blatant abuse of power and a clear indication of profiteering at the expense of

vulnerable students. It's high time this predatory behaviour is addressed and eradicated from

academic institutions. I believe we need to change the ACA code of ethics to remove these

individuals from positions of power.

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References

Association for Counseling. (n.d.). Section C: Professional responsibility. In ACA Code of

Ethics (Vol. 2014). Counseling.org.

Butler, R. W., & Williams, D. A. (1985). Description of Ohio State Board of Psychology

hearings on ethical violations: From 1972 to the present. Professional Psychology: Research and

Practice, 16 (4), 502–511. https://doi.org/10.1037//0735-7028.16.4.502

Description of Ohio State Board of Psychology hearings on ethical violations: From

1972 to the present. (n.d.). ProQuest; APA PsycArticles. Retrieved February 26, 2024, from

https://www.proquest.com/psycarticles/docview/614298656/fulltext/1668AD65F943450EPQ/1?a

ccountid=28125&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals
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References

Ivey, A. E., Ivey, M. B., & Zalaquett, C. P. (2018). Intentional interviewing and counseling:

Facilitating client development in a multicultural society (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.