A professional and ethical boundary between a psychologist and their client is absolutely crucial in maintaining a healthy therapeutic relationship. Falling in love with a client would constitute a violation of these boundaries and is considered highly unethical according to professional guidelines.
The American Psychological Association (APA) has explicit guidelines that prohibit such relationships. According to APA's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (Standard 10.05), psychologists are not allowed to engage in sexual intimacies with current therapy clients/patients. Furthermore, Standard 10.08 states that psychologists should not engage in a romantic relationship with a former client for at least two years after cessation or termination of therapy.
If a psychologist finds themselves developing romantic feelings for a client, they should take the following steps:
Seek Supervision: They should immediately seek consultation or supervision from a trusted colleague or professional. This can help them to understand and manage their feelings, and decide the best course of action.
Termination or Referral: If the psychologist's feelings continue to influence their professional relationship with the client, it may be necessary for them to refer the client to another professional. They should make sure to do this in a way that minimizes harm to the client.
Consider Personal Therapy: The psychologist may also benefit from their own personal therapy to explore what's happening for them emotionally and professionally.
Reflect on their Professional Practice: They should also reflect on their practice and consider whether they need more training or resources to manage boundaries and feelings that emerge in therapy.
Psychologists are humans and therefore not immune to feelings, including romantic ones. However, they have an ethical obligation to manage these feelings responsibly and not to act on them, in order to maintain the integrity of the therapeutic relationship and to avoid causing harm to their clients. If a psychologist violates these ethical standards, it can lead to professional sanctions, including loss of licensure.