Background:
Sexual and erotic feelings emerge naturally in psychotherapy, yet therapists often receive limited training in navigating these dynamics. Mismanagement of erotic transference and countertransference can compromise therapeutic safety, boundaries, and treatment outcomes. Despite its clinical importance, there has been no validated tool to assess therapists' emotional and attitudinal responses to sexual and erotic feelings in clinical work.


Purpose:
This study aimed to develop and validate the Therapists' Attitude toward Sexual and Erotic Feelings (TASEF) scale, a novel instrument designed to assess therapists' responses across positive, defensive, and threat-based reactions toward sexual and erotic feelings in therapy.


Method:
Two studies recruited 507 licensed clinicians. Study 1 (N=116) employed Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) to identify factor structure and optimize scale items. Study 2 (N=391) verified the structure using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and assessed convergent and discriminant validity via multitrait-multimethod modeling. Associations with demographic and professional variables were examined.


Results:
A stable four-factor structure emerged: Gratification, Fear, Aversion, and Threat. CFA supported the model with excellent fit indices. Convergent validity was stronger for Fear, Aversion, and Threat than for Gratification; discriminant validity with attachment, self-differentiation, and sexual-communication comfort measures was adequate. Sex therapists demonstrated lower fear and threat and higher gratification than other clinicians. Younger and less-experienced therapists reported greater fear and aversion.


Conclusions:
The TASEF provides the first validated measure of therapists' emotional responses to sexual and erotic feelings in therapy. Findings underscore the clinical and ethical relevance of addressing erotic dynamics through training, supervision, and reflective practice. The TASEF offers a tool for professional development, research, and safeguarding clinical boundaries to enhance quality of care and client protection.