Mental health counselors' experiences of sexual shame when clients disclose issues of a sexual nature

Sexual shame is a common phenomenon, experienced by most people at some point in their lives. When mental health counselors judge themselves or their clients, or work to avoid feeling sexual shame, it can distract from the therapeutic relationship with their clients. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study focused on six mental health counselors and their experiences of sexual shame within the context of the therapeutic relationship with their clients. Two semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant; one interview in person, and a follow-up phone call interview approximately one week later. The findings included participants' experiences of sexual shame, including their emotional reaction, thoughts, and physical sensations. The participants' experiences are reflected in the overarching organizational structure of coping strategies. This theme included further meaning making categories from the participants' experiences of sexual shame binding and sexual shame liberating. When participants were bound in their sexual shame, they were judging themselves and/or their clients and turning away from their connection with clients. When participants felt liberated from their sexual shame, they were able to turn toward their feelings and increase connection with clients. Participants' sexual shame liberation stemmed from receiving empathy from another person. In addition, connections are drawn from the findings of this research to the current literature. Finally, implications for counselor training programs and the field of counseling are presented.