Love and Sexuality in the Therapeutic Relationship.

Charles J. Gelso
,
Andres E. Pérez Rojas
,
Cheri Marmarosh

Divine Mercy University
,
George Washington University
,
University of Maryland University College

Research Output:

Contribución a una revista

Artículo

Revisión por expertos

Publication Information

Tipo de resultado

Research Output:

Contribución a una revista

Artículo

Revisión por expertos

Idioma original

Inglés

Páginas desde-hasta (Número de páginas)

Páginas 123-134 (12 páginas)

Revista (Volumen, Número de Edición)

Journal of Clinical Psychology (Volumen 70, Número 2)

Hitos de publicación

Publicada - 01/02/2014

Estado de publicación

Publicada - 01/02/2014

ISSN

0021-9762

Publication IDs

EBSCO: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=a9h&AN=93427480&site=ehost-live&custid=s9884035

Abstract

We examine sexual and loving feelings, on the part of both the therapist and patient, as they relate to their real relationship, patient transference, and therapist countertransference. Loving feelings ( agape) often are part of a strong real relationship and they tend to have a positive effect. Sexual feelings, too, may be part of the real relationship, but they are also often more conflict-based, residing in the transference and countertransference experience. It is deeply important for the therapist to seek understanding of his or her own and the patient's loving and sexual feelings, and to tease apart, as much as possible, the extent to which they are real relationship versus transference-countertransference-based. The patient's loving and sexual feelings toward the therapist need to be explored and understood just as other feelings. Although it is crucial that the therapist seek understanding of his or her own loving and sexual feelings toward the patient, we express serious reservations about the therapeutic value of sharing these with the patient.