ABSTRACT

At the outset of a clinical relationship, boundaries are created in order to define the therapeutic relationship, outline the treatment process, and explain the limits of confidentiality. Although clients initially agree to these conditions, there are instances when clients violate these boundaries by engaging in stalking behaviors against their mental health providers. It is estimated that between 10-20% of mental health professionals will be stalked by a client over the course of their careers. Stalking is a crime that does not discriminate, and there is no correlation between its occurrence and a clinician’s skill level or experience. Despite this real threat to clinician safety, there is a lack of awareness and training on this issue and a majority of clinicians report feeling unprepared to handle such behaviors.

摘要

在临床关系开始时，会创建边界以定义治疗关系、概述治疗过程并解释保密限制。尽管客户最初同意这些条件，但有时客户会通过对心理健康提供者的跟踪行为来违反这些界限。据估计，有 10-20% 的心理健康专业人员会在其职业生涯中受到客户的跟踪。Stalking 是一种不歧视的犯罪行为，其发生与临床医生的技能水平或经验之间没有相关性。尽管这对临床医生的安全构成了真正的威胁，但缺乏对这个问题的认识和培训，并且大多数临床医生报告说没有准备好处理此类行为。