Sex, Supervision, and Boundary Violations

Abstract

Sexual boundary violations in supervisory relationships (between educators/students or supervisors/supervisees) are harmful and often emotionally devastating to the parties involved. Despite psychodynamically oriented solutions put forth in the literature (e.g., intense psychotherapy or training on counter-transference), these violations continue to persist. The authors propose an alternative approach involving the new application of an existing model of human sexuality that provides the basis for training to help supervisors manage sexual feelings. With appropriate management of sexual feelings, supervisors increase the likelihood that they will do no harm to supervisees or students who, in turn, will be better prepared to handle sexual issues in their practice with clients.

Key Words:

• Sexuality
• boundary violations
• supervision
• fiduciary relationships
• educators and students
• psychodynamic theory