Reality or Fantasy?: Boundary Violations of Therapists in Film Since 1980

Many therapists in film often violate boundaries as defined in the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct. Many theorists suggest that film can be understood as a projection of cultural fantasy, suggesting that all film characters are projections of fantasized people on the screen. This work was created to explore the differences between the fantasized therapist in film and the actual therapist in the consulting room. It identifies the differences that exist between male and female therapists and patients in both film and society via violations of boundaries within the therapeutic relationship. The intention was to try to understand why these discrepancies exist. Fantasies play a dominant role in the development of film and reflect not only the fantasy of the creators, but also the fantasies of the society in which it is created. Therefore, celluloid boundary violations indicate a fantasized wish fulfillment of all those involved in the film experience. The results are discussed as a reflection of the fantasies of both the predominantly male filmmakers and the society of the United States.