Stalking of therapists

Abstract

Introduction Being stalked is a relatively common experience in today’s world, with lifetime rates ranging between 10% and 25% depending on the definitions employed (e.g., Budd and Mattinson, 2000; Purcell et al., 2002; Tjaden and Thoennes, 1998). Mental health professionals, in addition to sharing the risks of the rest of the community, have a substantial additional probability of being stalked by their patients and clients (Galeazzi et al., 2005; Purcell et al., 2005). Episodes of stalking fall into two broad types: brief intense episodes of harassment typically only lasting a few days and perpetrated predominantly by strangers, and extended periods of stalking usually lasting for months, ..