Maintaining professionalism in the face of emotional abuse from clients Export

@article{citeulike:2818244, abstract = {The harmful effects of emotional abuse have been studied in children, romantic relationships, and families, but little work has explored the phenomenon of therapists experiencing emotional abuse from their clients. The current paper examines the characteristics of emotional abuse as experienced by therapists, and presents methods by which clinicians can best maintain their professional decorum, responsibilities, objectivity, conceptual skills; and overall effectiveness in spite of aversive interactions with clients. Therapists can facilitate their own staying on task, and can reduce their subjective levels of stress by utilizing such self-help techniques as cognitive rehearsal, rational responding, assertiveness, and the use of social supports. These strategies help therapists to deal with patterns of hostile outbursts and boundary infringements from clients, without feeling helpless and burned out, and without terminating their clients prematurely out of desperation. Therapists also can remain suitably professional in managing emotionally abusive clients by making judicious use of documentation and supervisory consultations. Issues regarding appropriate termination of emotionally abusive clients are discussed in light of the ethical obligation not to abandon clients. The principle of "therapist self-preservation," which takes into account the therapist's need to consider his or her own well-being, along with the client's, is addressed as well.}, author = {Newman, Cory F.}, citeulike-article-id = {2818244}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1077-7229(97)80010-7}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B7XMX-4JCS5CC-2/1/305cb68f58417766de3036b482665883}, doi = {10.1016/S1077-7229(97)80010-7}, journal = {Cognitive and Behavioral Practice}, keywords = {anger, emotion, therapy}, month = {}, number = {1}, pages = {1--29}, posted-at = {2008-05-21 06:22:17}, priority = {5}, title = {Maintaining professionalism in the face of emotional abuse from clients}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1077-7229(97)80010-7}, volume = {4}, year = {1997} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2818244 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2818244 N2 - The harmful effects of emotional abuse have been studied in children, romantic relationships, and families, but little work has explored the phenomenon of therapists experiencing emotional abuse from their clients. The current paper examines the characteristics of emotional abuse as experienced by therapists, and presents methods by which clinicians can best maintain their professional decorum, responsibilities, objectivity, conceptual skills; and overall effectiveness in spite of aversive interactions with clients. Therapists can facilitate their own staying on task, and can reduce their subjective levels of stress by utilizing such self-help techniques as cognitive rehearsal, rational responding, assertiveness, and the use of social supports. These strategies help therapists to deal with patterns of hostile outbursts and boundary infringements from clients, without feeling helpless and burned out, and without terminating their clients prematurely out of desperation. Therapists also can remain suitably professional in managing emotionally abusive clients by making judicious use of documentation and supervisory consultations. Issues regarding appropriate termination of emotionally abusive clients are discussed in light of the ethical obligation not to abandon clients. The principle of "therapist self-preservation," which takes into account the therapist's need to consider his or her own well-being, along with the client's, is addressed as well. IS - 1 JF - Cognitive and Behavioral Practice EP - 29 TI - Maintaining professionalism in the face of emotional abuse from clients VL - 4 SP - 1 KW - anger KW - emotion KW - therapy AU - Newman, Cory PY - 1997/0// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1077-7229(97)80010-7 ER -