Therapists help people in a variety of ways. They counsel clients to help with emotional and mental healing. Therapists have the opportunity to do immense good, but the power dynamic can also lead to abuse.
If a therapist has abused you, you are not alone. You have legal options. Our Palm Beach therapy abuse lawyer can help you with your case.
Abuse in the Therapist-Client Relationship
Clients are vulnerable when they visit a therapist. They often reveal personal information in a one-on-one setting. This power imbalance can allow abuse to occur.
Some therapists manipulate their clients and break the boundaries of the therapist-client relationship. Appropriate boundaries include:
- Maintaining confidentiality: Your therapist should not share your personal information. There are only a few exceptions to this, as they could disclose your information when your safety or the safety of others is on the line.
- Not sharing their personal information with clients: This relationship is one-sided. The therapist should help you talk about and deal with your struggles—not the other way around.
- Maintaining a professional relationship: A therapist is a professional, and your relationship with them must be professional. They shouldn’t try to harbor a friendship with you outside of therapy.
- Using only appropriate touch and maintaining physical distance: While physical contact is vital to humans, only some forms of it are reasonable in the therapist-client relationship. Inappropriate touching or communications of a sexual manner could constitute therapist sexual abuse.
How Therapists Exploit Transference
Most patients trust that they can confide in their therapist about personal matters—and do so safely. But in some situations, therapists may actively exploit a client’s vulnerability. One way that we see this happen is through transference.
When a patient starts to project their feelings for someone else onto the therapist and begins to have a romantic or intimate attachment to the provider, this is transference. When this happens, a good therapist will manage it appropriately and maintain healthy boundaries. However, some providers act abusively and unethically. Some will develop what is called countertransference where they project their own unresolved traumas onto the client. They use the client’s transference to exploit the patient, seeking emotional, financial, or sexual control of the client.
They may groom the client for a relationship and abandon the therapeutic relationship the client needs.
This can have devastating impacts on the client. If your therapist was abusive, you shouldn’t have to handle this situation alone. Let our team review your case and tell you how we can help you hold the provider accountable.
For a free legal consultation with a therapist abuse lawyer call,
(888) 585-2188
What Legal Options do You Have in a Therapy Abuse Situation?
Every case of therapy abuse is different. Sometimes, a case can involve a criminal investigation. An appropriate investigation must occur so that a therapist doesn’t do the same thing to someone else.
For example, if a therapist sexually or physically abuses you, the therapist may face imprisonment or other punishment.
Sometimes it can be difficult to prove abuse in a therapy situation. If you choose to pursue a civil lawsuit against your therapist, you may be able to get compensation for your damages. What action you take will depend on your specific circumstances. An attorney can help you decide what path may be best to take in your situation.
You Can Recover Compensation in Your Therapist Abuse Case
Our team at Jenner Law can help you seek compensation after you experience therapist abuse. We will look at all the details of your case to determine the damages you can recover. Recoverable damages in a therapist abuse case may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Medical bills
- Ongoing or long-term therapy needs for trauma
You should not be responsible for paying for any of your abuse-related losses. Your Palm Beach, FL therapist abuse lawyer can help you seek a fair settlement. If we cannot settle fairly through out-of-court negotiations, we can take your case to court and fight for the justice you deserve.
How Can a Therapy Abuse Lawyer Help You?
Consulting an attorney after experiencing therapy abuse can be a helpful step. An attorney with experience in therapy abuse cases will know what laws apply to your situation and offer advice about handling your case. They will be familiar with the laws that apply to your situation and the area where you live. They understand that your situation is complex and can respectfully help you seek justice.
A therapy abuse lawyer can:
- Review the facts of your case to determine what happened and what damages you suffered
- Gather evidence to support any claims
- Offer you advice about your legal options
- Answer any questions you have about therapy abuse cases
- Communicate between any involved parties throughout legal proceedings
- Estimate how much you may be able to get in compensation
- Make sure you don’t miss any deadlines for filing a lawsuit
The Cost of Hiring a Therapist Abuse Lawyer in Palm Beach
You need time to heal after any abuse or other traumatizing situation. The last thing you need to be worried about is the cost of hiring a lawyer.
At Jenner Law, we work on a contingency-fee basis. This means we don’t get paid unless we help you recover compensation. You can explore your legal options without any costs to you upfront.
We also offer free consultations. When you contact us, we can explain how our team can help your case.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Jenner Law Testimonials
We have experience helping clients in Palm Beach. We want to help you, too. We believe in connecting with our clients and helping them pursue legal action.
As Rob Jenner says, “We take pride in the relationships we develop with each of our clients. Through the power of our collective voices, we can make a difference.”
Here’s what just a few of our clients have had to say about working with our firm:
- “Jenner Law is a great firm. The owner, Rob Jenner, treated me like a person, not a payday. He provided me his personal cell phone number so I could contact him directly if I wanted to. His staff [was] always polite and willing to help me with any questions that I had.” – [Identity hidden]
- “The people here are very polite and they take the time to speak with me and answer all my questions.” – [Identity hidden]
What to Do After You Face Therapist Abuse
After you face abuse from your therapist, you should:
- Visit a doctor to have them assess your injuries.
- Gather any evidence you can, such as reports from your therapy sessions or photos of the injuries you sustained
- Get a second therapist’s opinion to determine whether your therapist’s actions were abusive
- Seek legal guidance from one of our attorneys at Jenner Law.
Our Palm Beach therapist abuse lawyer can help you gather evidence if you are not able to do so. We can prove that the therapist or any other party that harmed you owes you compensation.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation Today
Abuse is a serious issue, and you don’t have to take legal action on your own. We can help you decide what legal action to take and help you work toward getting the compensation you deserve.
We are ready to talk and answer your questions. Call us today for your free consultation.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form