The American Psychological Association Code of Ethics, Section 10.05, states that psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with current therapy clients/patients. In most all states, laws prohibiting sex with clients are limited to current or recent clients.

Can a therapist date their patient?

Sexual contact of any kind between a therapist and a client is unethical and illegal in the State of California. It is always the responsibility of the therapist to ensure that sexual contact with a client, whether consensual or not, does not occur.