California Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) Law and Ethics exam

When a client discloses past sexual abuse but wants to focus on relationship issues, what should the therapist do?

1. Respect the client's wishes and continue to focus on resolving the issues she wants to work on

2. Give her the brochure 'Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex' and discuss her options

3. Report the therapist to the BBS to protect other clients

4. Work on the issue of sexual exploitation in therapy

The correct answer is: Give her the brochure 'Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex' and discuss her options

The most appropriate course of action in this scenario is to respect the client's wishes and continue to focus on resolving the issues she wants to work on. It is essential to prioritize the client’s autonomy and therapeutic goals. Acknowledging the client’s desire to address relationship issues allows them to guide their own therapy and ensures they feel safe and empowered in the therapeutic space. While it is important to be aware of past trauma, bringing it into the session when the client has not expressed a desire to focus on it could potentially overwhelm or derail the therapeutic process. The therapist should hold a supportive space and be ready to integrate discussions of the past only if the client chooses to do so in the future. The other options offered do not effectively align with the best practices for therapy in this context. For instance, providing a brochure about professional ethics would undermine the client's expressed needs, and reporting the therapist would not be appropriate without a clear violation of ethical guidelines. Additionally, focusing on issues of sexual exploitation without the client's consent could be intrusive and may not facilitate healing or resolution in the areas the client wishes to address.