For many people, going to therapy is an opportunity to be vulnerable in a safe space and process past and current events and the emotions they bring. So, when mental health practitioners sexually abuse their patients, the effects can be severely damaging. If you or a loved one sought therapy in Stamford and survived sexual abuse by a therapist, you may have a legal case to pursue compensation for your pain and suffering.
At Jenner Law, we advocate for survivors of sexual abuse by a mental health therapist both locally in Connecticut and nationwide. If you decide to take legal action against your abuser or another involved party, a Stamford therapist sexual abuse lawyer from our team lead your case and represent you in court if necessary. Our therapist abuse lawyers are ready to help.
What Is Considered “Sexual Abuse” in Legal Cases?
Sexual abuse generally involves any nonconsensual sexual acts committed on an individual.
If you, your child, or someone else you love survived sexual abuse by a mental health practitioner, you may have grounds to sue the therapist or other liable party. You can pursue compensation for the damages you or a loved one suffered. Our legal team at Jenner Law can build this claim for you and advocate for your interests.
For a free legal consultation with a therapist sexual abuse lawyer call,
(888) 585-2188
How to Know if You Have a Sexual Abuse Case Against Your Therapist
Mental health professionals are held to strict standards of care in order to maintain their license to practice in Connecticut. Per these standards, any form of sexual act—consensual or not—with a patient is prohibited.
Understanding the Transference Phenomena
The root reason for prohibiting sexual relations with a patient, even if they are consensual, stems from the “transference phenomena.” Patients go to therapists to release their feelings and express how they perceive events in their lives, which leaves them vulnerable to therapists’ interpretation. This phenomenon is sometimes compared to how a child might go to their parents for advice, as it puts the therapist in a powerful position of influence and control.
This transference might prompt the therapist to participate in countertransference, which is when they insert their own feelings and unresolved traumas into the therapy sessions. In some cases, therapists exploit the transference phenomena in order to groom their patients into participating in a sexual or romantic relationship.
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse and other forms of abuse (e.g., psychological abuse, physical abuse, or improper drug prescriptions), you may have grounds to hold your therapist or a liable party (e.g., the mental health facility) accountable.
You Can Pursue Compensation for Damages Related to Sexual Abuse
If you decide to move forward with a therapist sexual abuse case in Stamford, you may qualify to pursue compensation for different types of damages, such as:
- Medical expenses if the sexual abuse led to physical injuries that required treatment
- Psychological treatment expenses for both the treatment you received under the abuser and new treatment from a different therapist you might require to cope with the abuse you suffered
- Pain and suffering related to the sexual abuse
- Emotional distress, which includes depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma the abuse caused
Sexual abuse can also affect survivors’ personal lives. For example, these traumatic events can throw a survivor into a deep depression, which might result in them losing their job after missing several workdays. Others may end personal relationships due to the abuse. Some patients might commit self-harm or attempt suicide.
While no amount of money will ever excuse what your therapist did to you, compensation can allow you the time and space you need to heal.
Click to contact our Therapist Sexual Abuse Lawyers today
Our Legal Team Can Build Your Stamford Therapist Sexual Abuse Case for You
If you decide to hire a Stamford therapist sexual abuse attorney from Jenner Law, we can help you:
- Collect evidence and investigate your case
- Avoid uncomfortable communications by handling them for you, such as responding to messages from the defendant’s legal team
- File your case within Connecticut’s statute of limitations, which determines how long a person’s case remains valid by law
- Prepare legal paperwork to build your case
- Prepare for court if that becomes a necessary legal route for your case
Our team is also available for legal counsel, meaning we will answer any questions or concerns you have about your case at any point during its process.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Your Time Might Be Running Out to File Your Sexual Abuse Case
If you would like to file a sexual abuse lawsuit, state law limits the amount of time you have to take action. Several variables may affect your case’s legal deadline, so you may want to consult a legal firm like ours to determine how much time you have left to move forward with your case.
Tolling exceptions may apply to minors who suffered sexual abuse during treatment, which allows these individuals a longer amount of time to file legal actions.
What Happens If I don’t File My Lawsuit on Time?
Failure to submit your case within its legal deadline can result in a judge dismissing it on those grounds. A case dismissal could take away your opportunity to seek compensation for damages.
Our Attorneys at Jenner Law Fight for Sexual Abuse Survivors in Stamford, CT
If you or a loved one endured sexual abuse by a mental health practitioner in Stamford, you may have grounds to take legal action against that individual and potentially other parties involved. Our legal team at Jenner Law can help you build a case against the appropriate party or parties and pursue compensation on your behalf to recover your damages.
Call now to get a free case evaluation from one of our team members. Should you decide to work with our firm, we will assign a Stamford therapist sexual abuse lawyer to your case. Don’t hesitate to start your legal journey today.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form