A study to explore decision-making in psychological counsellors and psychotherapists whose clients report illicit or harmful fantasies during therapy.

Within the context of psychological counsellors and therapeutic encounters of psychotherapists, clients may reveal illicit fantasies where it is unclear whether he or she is acting out his or her illicit fantasies. Using web-based survey methods to collect qualitative data, I explored therapists' decision-making when clients disclose illicit fantasies in such circumstances. Data analysed thematically revealed that most therapists were confident in asking direct questions about illicit fantasies. However, therapists working in private practice appeared to be less likely to estimate risk or "dangerousness" objectively than therapists working in the NHS were. Implications for mental health care practice are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]