To whomever can help me, why do the ethical committee's put so much emphasis on not having relations with former clients you have given treatment to in therapy when a lot of clients have been abandoned once and then because of the ethical committee's decisions are forced to endure that sort of pain all over again thus triggering feelings from their past that they at one time may have resolved? That to me seems quite unethical and not to mention the fact that their theories violate not only the pursuit of liberty or freedom if you will of the client but also that of the therapist as well.

We have the power over liberty and freedom in our personal lives.

But when one becomes a doctor, therapist, physician, etc. they give up their pursuit to liberty and freedom with their clients when they become a physician. They take an oath to harm none. It is a pre-requisite of the job, but they know that before they ever get involved.

Once someone has power over another individual, either as their doctor, therapist, etc. any kind of involvement after that should be construed as unethical; an abuse of trust.

They, having such personal knowledge of the previous client, down to their weaknesses and utmost secrets, could put the client in harms way, as the clients are usually vulnerable and weak. In all fairness and respect, the counselor's intentions could be skewed, they could use what they know to prey on their clients, both financially or emotionally.

They have to know that with such behavior comes a stigma.

They wouldn't be the first person to question these ethics, but know that they are put into effect to protect the individuals involved, the doctor included. All circumstances are not the same, I'm sure patients fall in love with their physicians all the time, sometimes fanatically.

However, imagine how they would explain to their friends and colleagues how they met. Awkward moment I would assume. Especially if their colleagues were forced to take the same oath that the other colleague so blindly ignores.

That is why in the military it is not advisable to get involved with someone superior in rank. Even if they retire, it leaves everyone in a awkward position.

These are just my personal opinions.

Hi, jcplusdc!

The above answer by 08_777444 is excellent!

I just wanted to add that, most likely, one of the reasons that those types of rules are in place by ethics committees in the first place, is so that clients won't have to go through that sort of pain again.

Thanks!