| Summary: | The purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate the experiences of clients who
sought psychotherapeutic help and perceived aspects of the therapy to be harmful. This
study used a survey design. Fifty-two participants were recruited through advertisements
in the media and sent a questionnaire. The results from the questionnaires were analyzed
using descriptive statistics. Responses to the open-ended questions were studied for
themes regarding harm. The results show that respondents reported perceiving negative
therapist characteristics such as hostility and rudeness; a lack of positive therapist
characteristics such as understanding feelings and what was said, being respectful and
supportive; and negative therapist behaviors such labelling, having different goals, saying
or doing something that decreased respondent's self-esteem. The results from this study
suggest that boundary violations considered unethical are perceived as occurring and are
being experienced as harmful or unhelpful by the clients. That less than 10 % of the
respondents in this study reported experiences of sexual boundary violations, yet were
motivated to share their concerns in this study clearly implies that other kinds of
interventions fall under client's definitions of harmful psychotherapy. This study
underscores the need for continued research in this area; and encourages efforts to be
undertaken to help clients who have been harmed.
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