Opinion about the below discussion post?

This course has answered many of the questions I have had throughout the psychology program. I have been able to understand the ethical boundaries and expectations from clinical mental health counselors. Before starting this course, I had a specific area of questioning in regard to sexual transference. In my previous work experiences, I encountered instances in which my client developed intimate feelings and made me aware of them. I was not sure how to handle this in the correct manner.

The erotic interference information video explained the dos and don'ts of handling sexual interference in a professional manner. It explained the reasons these feelings may develop between a patient or therapist (Bridges, 1998). It also explained how to follow through with a conversation if the patient advocates for his feelings in a way that will not dismiss the comment but would also not encourage it. This moreover may open the door to the interpretation of these feelings as a projection of an independent subconscious reason.

Understanding the dynamics of the patient and therapy relationship is crucial for an effective therapeutic environment. Establishing boundaries but ensuring the patient feels they are in a safe space free of judgment develops a sense of confidence in that they may share any information with the therapist (Golden, 1995). This benefits their goals and plan of intervention by allowing for all viable information to be part of a session, and prevents a patient from withholding valuable evidence.

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