Introduction
The issue of the violation of sexual boundaries is a contemporary one. Despite technological advances and intensive processes of humanization, the problem of sexual violence remains unresolved. The danger of encountering a maniac or a sexually disturbed person is present in almost every corner of the world, and such situations can happen entirely unexpectedly. This problem is also common among counselors, even though people turn to them for help. Sometimes, people may have mental health problems if their sexual boundaries have been violated. Cases of violence are not uncommon, so each requires wide publicity and careful government monitoring. The situation of violation of sexual boundaries is the most common ethical problem, as it involves a large number of victims and is not widely publicized.
Determining Sexual Boundaries Violations
To begin the study, it is necessary to pay attention to the components of the concept of violation of sexual boundaries. In this context, one can say that the violation is the delivery of unpleasant sexual emotions to the patient (Hook & Devereux, 2018a). In such cases, the person describes this condition not as pleasure but as an uncomfortable environment in which he or she did not want to be. Thus, there are attempts to violate man’s comfort zone and, therefore, to forcibly cross the border allowed. Here a person may encounter the concept of borders, which in a psychological context is defined as certain moral restrictions that a person puts on him or herself. To prevent another person from violating personal boundaries, they “need to be firm but not rigid to permit these primitive unconscious communications to pass therapist and client” (Little, 2020, p. 231). Sexual boundaries are the exact personal boundaries of a person but are related to a more intimate sphere of life that outsiders should not violate. So, trespassing is often a private act committed against a person’s will.
Having defined the exact meaning of the violation of sexual boundaries for a person, the question remains how it manifests itself among counselors. It is important to note that this problem may concern clients and employees of a lower rank. Inexperienced professionals can be morally vulnerable, which is used by more experienced people for whom this behavior can become a reason for violating personal sexual boundaries (Cruikshanks & Burns, 2020). Because of uncertainty, a person may not always clearly defend his position, leading to harmful consequences. Sexual boundaries are essential to mental health, so their violation can significantly impact human self-perception. Every worker and patient needs a secure environment to avoid such consequences, which is necessary to understand this issue. Thus, violation of sexual boundaries by counselors is a moral crime against a person that can cause irreparable harm to the psyche.
The Commonplace of Sexual Boundary Violations
One of the most interesting questions is why the problem of violating sexual boundaries is still a global one for humanity. If a doctor exhibits such behavior toward a patient, which is motivated by the establishment of sexual relations, it is a significant risk to human safety and trust in doctors (MPTS, 2018). By doing such actions, the specialists discredit their colleagues, thereby increasing the level of suspicion. There is a widespread problem of harm to the medical field, which results in the loss of the idealization of medicine (Hook & Devereux, 2018b). An interesting fact is that there is a lack of awareness among the world population of the seriousness of the problem, which is the reason for the phenomenon’s prevalence. For example, a survey among German residents found that 56 percent of women and 17 percent of men had succumbed to harassment by health professionals (Clemens et al., 2021). The figures are enormous and point to a widespread ethical problem that needs to be addressed worldwide.
Human Sexual Boundaries Violations by Counselors
Among people who have suffered from sexual harassment by counselors, one can find those who are willing to share their experiences and tell their own stories. One of the case files concerns a doctor who has been monitoring the patient’s state of health for five years, which has led to solid contact. However, after a human recount of encountering sexual violence in childhood, the doctor placed his hand on the patient’s knee, hinting at a desire for sexual intimacy (Hook & Devereux, 2018a). In such situations, a person may be as vulnerable as possible, as injuries suffered in childhood can be felt at any time in adulthood. Although there was no violent panic reaction on the part of the patient, this does not mean that the case did not cause any harm. The Singapore Association for Counselling has a clause stating that members shall not have sexual and/or romantic relationship with current clients and/or their family members (Singapore Association for Counselling, 2018). This code prohibits sexual relations with patients, which the attending physician from the example ignored. The situation was completely wrong from an ethical point of view, but patients might even be unaware of it.
The second case demonstrates the other side of the attempt to violate a person’s sexual boundaries. While in the former case, the reader can notice sexual acts, there is no concrete action this time. The patient reveals that he has devoted himself to the physician’s interests, taking over his hobbies entirely. The doctor responded positively to such manifestations, thus motivating the person to deepen further knowledge concerning other people’s interests (Hook & Devereux, 2018a). At first, it may seem that there is nothing wrong with this situation, but such passion can lead to negative consequences. The doctor appears to tie the person, motivating the acquisition of new knowledge that will become common between the two. After a while, the patient may become passionate and develop a desire for sexual intimacy with the doctor, which will seem to be a person-related soul. The Singapore Association for Counselling has noted that members must plan, design, conduct and report research in a manner that is consistent with ethical principles and law (Singapore Association for Counselling, 2018). Therefore, attempts to implement non-standard treatments should be stopped to avoid further, more severe consequences.
Ways to Prevent Sexual Boundaries Violation
The prevention of the violation of human sexual boundaries is an essential topic for society. The bottom line is that there are different ways to deal with sexual violence, but the problem cannot be eliminated because of the human mindset. One way is to make people aware of the need to take specific actions; it is crucial to explain this from a young age. For example, the prevention of sexual violence has never been considered part of a student’s life, but the responsibility of each individual to prevent the violation of sexual boundaries is increasing (de Villiers, 2021). This suggests that among the young population, there is sufficient awareness of the problem. However, the problem may be the reluctance of some victims to report for personal reasons (MacIntyre & Appel, 2020). It was up to the individual to decide whether he or she wished to share information about what had happened, but the stories of the victims explained the magnitude of the problem and the need to address it.
If the population is aware of the problem of the violation of sexual boundaries in the world, information alone will not suffice. Even though the issue was widely publicized, it could not be resolved by the victims since, in any situation, the source of the problem must be removed. In this case, the primary sources are counselors, whose competence must be fully assured. Ideally, professionals should undergo appropriate training and testing so that they can identify possible tendencies to psychological problems and possible desire for sexual intimacy with patients (Vesentini et al., 2022). Such examinations should show the doctor’s mental health results to increase confidence in his stability. If the problem is addressed by educating the potentially vulnerable populations about the consequences of sexual violence, it can never be fully addressed. The most reliable option would be to combine these two methods, which would allow reducing the number of violent cases. Future generations face the difficult task of resolving the issue and raising awareness among the world’s population, but it is still within reach.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that the situation with the violation of sexual boundaries by counselors is indeed commonplace for the whole world. Since the population of the Earth is not yet fully aware of its scope, it is global but not widely known. In general, this violation can be interpreted as acts of an intimate nature directed against a person against his or her will and bringing negative consequences in the future. The stories of victims are alarming but motivate them to address sexual violence. In order to address this issue, it is recommended that solutions be sought both from the victim and the potential threat. There is a need to educate as many generations as possible about this global situation and ensure that counselors are appropriately monitored for their mental health.
References
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