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ABSTRACT
In this research, we used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore how counselors experience and manage ethical tensions in sex addiction counseling. Four certified sex addiction therapists (CSATs) were selected as participants and interviewed about their experiences. Analysis of interview transcripts produced three superordinate themes: preventative strategies, nuanced emotions during ethical tensions, and resolving tensions. Preventative strategies describe the counselors’ efforts to implement practices that prevented negative experiences with ethical tensions. The theme of nuanced emotions refers to the intricate emotional experience the counselors often had when they encountered ethical tensions. Resolving tensions relates how counselors constructed ethical and personally meaningful decision-making processes to resolve their tensions. Findings are discussed in relation to extant literature about sex addiction counseling, including this study’s contributions, implications for practice and future research, and strengths and limitations.
Disclosure statement
The authors have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Ethics approval
The Athabasca University Research Ethics Board (AUREB) has reviewed and approved the research project noted below. The AUREB is constituted and operates in accordance with the current version of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS) and Athabasca University Policy and Procedures.