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Therapists in danger: take action to stop stalkers.

Article Excerpt
Mental-health professionals are at a significantly increased risk of being stalked by current or former clients (Galeazzi, Elkins, & Curci, 2005; Hudon-Allez, 2006; Kaplan, 2006; Lion & Herschler, 1998; Mclvor & Petch, 2006; Miller, 1985; Morgan & Porter, 1999; Pathe & Mullen, 1997; Pathe, Mullen, & Purcell, 2002; Romans, Hays, & White, 1996; Sandberg, McNiel, & Binder, 2002). In addition, practitioners who are stalked are slower to recognize or accurately interpret early indicators and less likely to report victimization. Research has suggested therapist-stalking is an under-recognized problem for which most therapists are poorly prepared (McIvor & Petch). There are, however, precautions practitioners can integrate into their practices and lifestyles to reduce the likelihood of being stalked.

Duty to Prevent

With all clients, practitioners should establish and reinforce the reality that the therapist-client relationship is purely professional. For example, care should be taken to begin and end all sessions on time. This is especially important for clients who repeatedly try to stretch session time with the therapist, because this type of behavior may signal the beginning of more insidious and dangerous behavior. Similarly, self-disclosure (which can be an effective therapeutic intervention) should never be used unless there is an identifiable and specific therapeutic benefit to the client (beyond that of feeling trusted, etc.). Unnecessary and inappropriate self-disclosure may contribute to a client's misperception of the therapist's intent and feelings.

Mental health practitioners should be attentive to the client's subtle efforts to push beyond the professional relationship, such as asking personal questions or complimenting on a personal level. These potential red flags of future stalking behavior are often overlooked by therapists, as on the surface and in isolation they appear completely innocuous. Any time a client pushes or oversteps a boundary, the behavior should be carefully documented. Should crossing a boundary happen a second time, consultation with a colleague should be sought. Given the typical pattern of escalation, if the intrusive and/ or unwanted behavior continues for more than 2 weeks all efforts to re-establish appropriate boundaries should be discontinued, and the client should be transferred to another therapist (Pathe & Mullen, 2002).

Though therapists have a clear responsibility to their clients, their primary responsibility is to themselves. Specific precautions can reduce the likelihood of becoming a stalking victim. In the office environment, mental health professionals should avoid leaving out magazines or mail with any address or identifying label, decorating with pictures of family and/or friends, and leaving...