N.J. Admin. Code § 13:42-10.9

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 13:42-10.9 - Sexual misconduct

(a) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise:

"Client" means any person who is the recipient of a professional psychological service rendered by a licensee. "Client" for purposes of this section also means a person who is the subject of professional examination even if the purpose of that examination is unrelated to treatment.

"Sexual contact" means the knowing touching of a person's body directly or through clothing, where the circumstances surrounding the touching would be construed by a reasonable person to be motivated by the licensee's own prurient interest or for sexual arousal or gratification. "Sexual contact" includes, but is not limited to, the imposition of a part of the licensee's body upon a part of the client's body, sexual penetration, or the insertion or imposition of any object or any part of a licensee or client's body into or near the genital, anal, or other opening of the other person's body.

"Sexual harassment" means solicitation of any sexual act, physical advances, or verbal or non-verbal conduct that is sexual in nature, and which occurs in connection with a licensee's activities or role as a provider of psychological services, and that is either unwelcomed, offensive to a reasonable person, or creates a hostile work place environment, and the licensee knows, should know, or is told this, or is sufficiently severe or intense to be abusive to a reasonable person in that context. "Sexual harassment" may consist of a single extreme or severe act, or multiple acts, and may include, but is not limited to, conduct of a licensee with a client, co-worker, employee, student, or supervisee whether or not such individual is in a subordinate position to the licensee.

(b) A licensee shall not engage in sexual contact with a current client, a former client to whom psychological services were rendered within the immediately preceding 24 months, a current student, a direct supervisee or supervisor, or a research subject.

(c) In circumstances where any of the persons listed in (b) above are, or should be recognized by the licensee as, clearly vulnerable by reason of emotional or cognitive disorder to exploitive influence by the licensee, the prohibition on sexual contact shall extend indefinitely.

(d) A licensee shall not engage in sexual harassment in a professional setting (including, but not limited to, an office, hospital or health care facility) or outside of the professional setting.

(e) A licensee shall not accept as a client a former sexual partner.

(f) In the treatment of sexual dysfunction as well as in other areas of the practice of psychology, a licensee shall not engage in the following conduct, which is hereby defined as professional misconduct:

1. Sexual contact or deliberately hurtful contact between licensee and client;

2. In therapy groups, activities which promote, allow, or involve physical contact of a sexual or deliberately hurtful nature between the licensee and group members, or between group members themselves; and

3. Discussion of an intimate sexual nature with a client, unless that discussion is directly related to legitimate client needs and furthers the client's psychological treatment. At no time shall any such discussions include disclosure by the licensee to the client of his or her own intimate sexual relations or relationships.

(g) A licensee shall not engage in any other activity which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the activity serves the licensee's personal prurient interests or is for the sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse of the licensee or client.

(h) A licensee shall not seek or solicit sexual contact with a client and shall not seek, solicit, accept, or participate in sexual contact with any person in exchange for professional services.

(i) Violation of any of the prohibitions or directives set forth at (b) through (h) above shall be deemed to constitute professional misconduct pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:1-21(e).

(j) It shall not be a defense to any action under this section that:

1. The client solicited or consented to sexual contact with the licensee; or

2. The licensee was in love with or had affection for the client.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:42-10.9

Amended by R.2000 d.476, effective 12/4/2000.
See: 31 New Jersey Register 3218(a), 32 New Jersey Register 4260(a).
Rewrote section.