The fear of sexual boundary violations and false allegations in male counselling practice

While the #MeToo movement appropriately propelled the sexual harassment of women into the spotlight, it has unintentionally created an atmosphere of fear among some men reticent to work alone with women. Focussing on the #MeToo movement as a precipitating factor, this reflective paper considers whether a perceived erosion of the presumption of innocence in cases of sexual misconduct may contribute to such fears among male counsellors. Some men feel that their gender alone provokes an immediate presupposition of their untrustworthiness. Conclusion: No literature was found that suggested that male counsellors actively avoid working with female clients for fear of allegations of sexual misconduct. However, the research does suggest a broader anxiety among men who fear what may happen should any false accusations be levied against them. These findings underscore the need for further research to explore how such fears may influence clinical practice and impact both counsellors and clients.