Love is all around? - On dealing with eroticism and infatuation in three different psychotherapeutic approaches

Abstract

How do therapists react when their patients or they themselves develop erotic feelings in the therapeutic setting? Conceptual differences of different therapy approaches (psychoanalytic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and client-centered therapy), specific attitudes of therapists and possibilities of intervention will be shown. The literature search in several databases revealed that in comparison to the abundance of psychoanalytic literature on the topic, little (but relevant) information can be found in the two other approaches. These publications point to the regular occurrence of feelings of infatuation in behavioral therapy and client-centered psychotherapy and to a need to engage with the topic as therapists. The consensus of the publications presented here is that therapists want to accept and work with feelings of infatuation in patients and in themselves, while maintaining abstinence. It is considered especially important not to shame disclosing patients by rejecting them. Treatment discontinuation should be avoided whenever possible. More research on erotic feelings in behavioral and client-centered psychotherapy is encouraged, as well as ideas for education and training.