Sexual abuse by therapists: Maintaining the conspiracy of silence

Abstract

The mental health professions are reluctant to admit, and quick to minimize or deny, therapist sexual abuse. Constructive action will be facilitated by understanding the ingredients of this 'conspiracy of silence': the belief that it only happened in the '60s and '70s, a we-they attitude to abusers, professional protectionism, denial of sexual attraction to clients, trivialisation, idealization of therapist-client sexual contact, victim-blaming, and the myriad fears and other feelings that hinder client disclosure.