NCJ Number
190650
Journal
Trauma, Violence, and Abuse Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 331-342
Date Published
October 2001
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article addresses the ethical issues and dilemmas that clinical practitioners confront when providing services to sexually abused children and their families.
Abstract
The analysis highlights the differences between the roles of forensic evaluator and treating therapist, with emphasis on the ethical dilemmas related to role boundaries, confidentiality, therapeutic alliance, and court testimony. The analysis recommends that therapists for sexually abused children avoid becoming involved in legal and forensic matters due to the inherent conflict associated with these different roles. The discussion also focuses on recent guidelines promulgated by professional organizations and with relevance to these issues and offers practical strategies that clinicians can use when dealing with these issues. Recommendations include establishing role boundaries, protecting confidentiality, and avoiding legal testimony. The analysis concludes that therapists need to avoid compromising the essence of their true professional responsibility to help sexually abused children and their families recover from this traumatic life event. Table, note, author biographies, 3 suggested further readings, and 20 references (Author abstract modified)