People see therapists for temporary anxiety or long-term mental illness or any of the hundreds of diagnoses outlined in the bible of psychiatry, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
It doesn’t matter what brings you to a therapist. That’s your business. What matters is the harm that can be done to your mental health by an abusive therapist who breaks the trust between you.
Aftermath of Abuse
When you go to a mental health therapist, you’re asking for help and offering your trust. That act automatically sets up a power dynamic between you and your therapist. Your therapist assumes authority in the relationship, with the aim of using that authority to help you realize your mental health goals. That’s the idea, but occasionally, a therapist will abuse the authority they’re given. When you’re exposed to abuse in this private, trusting environment, it can severely affect your mental health. For instance:
- A therapist is supposed to encourage your independence, which will allow you to grow as an individual. But some might subtly encourage dependence by participating in decision-making that should be yours alone or being dismissive of your growth to the point you focus only on gaining their approval. The further they lead you down this road, the harder it will be to find the skills to cope with life events on your own. As a survivor, you may become buried under fear and uncertainty, unable to move decisively in any direction.
- Therapists listen, they’re nonjudgmental, and they try to help you resolve the issues that initially brought you to them so that you may experience improved mental health. They are empathetic people. If a therapist is critical of you or humiliates you instead of lifting you and your sense of self-worth, this is abuse and can amplify your original issues and introduce new ones, such as feelings of shame or lack of self-worth.
- Typically, as a patient, you will approach the therapeutic relationship from a place of vulnerability and trust. Most therapists are professionals who work within accepted boundaries, but some ignore those ethical and sometimes legal boundaries and use your openness and trust to develop a sexually abusive relationship with you. Such abuse from what was a space of trust can have long-lasting and harsh effects on your mental health. The Journal for Counseling and Development found that among clients who had gone through this abusive experience there could be found those who had attempted suicide, reports of depression and anger, inability to handle pressure from work, hospitalizations, and other negative impacts on lives and mental health.
The “therapist-patient sex syndrome” can present with multiple symptoms and severely affect the survivor’s mental health, including:
- Contradictory feelings of anger and the need to escape, even to the point of suicide, and protectiveness toward the abuser.
- Strong feelings of self-blame—that you caused the abuser to act as they did and they’re not at fault.
- A deep and abiding sense of distrust because the critical bond of trust between a patient and therapist was violated. This distrust can go on to affect all of your relationships, from the most intimate to the superficial.
- Emotional instability that may appear immediately or years down the road. Anger, depression, fear, and other strong emotions may unexpectedly overwhelm you, impairing your ability to function healthily and increasing your risk of suicide.
If you are a survivor of therapist abuse, these and other symptoms that negatively affect your mental health can engulf you. The horrible irony is that the distrust that exists because of the abuse may make it difficult for you to seek professional help.
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(888) 585-2188
Shining a Light on Therapists and Abuse
When we see a therapist, we know we’re going to share many of our deepest secrets. We do so because we understand that it’s supposed to be a safe, nonjudgmental space and if we don’t spill out our truths, no matter how painful they are, we can’t confront them and figure out how to deal with them in a healthy way.
There’s a built-in trust in the process. It’s supposed to be a safe, professional space. If that trust is broken and our vulnerability is taken advantage of, that’s abuse.
For too long, a small number of therapists have abused their position, with many continuing to see patients even when their transgressions have been made public, as one Boston Globe article reports. It’s not right, and it’s past time to put a stop to it.
Jenner Law Can Help
At Jenner Law, we invite you to sit down with us for a free consultation as we listen to your story. Our therapist abuse lawyers believe you and will fight alongside you as you pursue full and fair compensation. You pay no attorney’s fees until you get your settlement or judgment. Take that first step and contact us today.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form