Any sexual relationship with your therapist could be considered abuse, even if you believe it is consensual. Under ethical guidelines, therapists cannot have a sexual relationship with their patients. To do so could open them up to a therapist sexual abuse case.
If this happened to you, a Baltimore therapist sexual abuse lawyer from our firm can help you understand why your trusted counselor should not have allowed this to occur. We offer a free, confidential initial case consultation so that you can discuss your options with us at no cost.
Understanding Transference and Countertransference in Mental Health Care
It is never appropriate for a mental health professional to establish a relationship that goes beyond that of therapist and client. Therapists must be careful never to cross professional boundaries, even if their patients appear to want to begin a consensual sexual relationship.
When patients are open and vulnerable with their therapists, they often begin to feel an attraction or a desire for an intimate relationship. This is a known phenomenon, transference, and one all mental health professionals learn about in their training. They are taught how to manage these cases ethically and remain professional, with a focus on their patient’s best interests.
Therapists also learn about countertransference, which could occur when they develop an attraction to the patient because of the trust and vulnerability displayed. This requires the therapist to maintain strict boundaries and ethics to avoid causing emotional harm to the patient.
There are numerous ways to handle transference and countertransference appropriately, but grooming the patient to develop an intimate or sexual relationship is not one of them. A therapist having sex with a patient or engaging in other related activities could be considered abuse under almost any circumstance.
For a free legal consultation, call,
(888) 585-2188
Why Is a Consensual Relationship Considered Therapist Abuse?
A sexual relationship with anyone who holds power over their partner poses a problem. In an unethical relationship between a therapist and a patient, there is a power imbalance that could cause significant, lasting harm.
The therapist holds significant power over the patient since they are in control of their mental health treatment and well-being. Developing a sexual relationship with them is exploitative and abusive. Therapists know this violates their state’s code of ethics and could put their patients at risk.
When a therapist takes advantage of the inherent imbalance in power and allows a sexual relationship to occur or grooms the patient to encourage it, the patient is unlikely to be willing to trust other mental health professionals in the future. This is especially true if the therapist later abandons them or their treatment. Following therapist sexual abuse, it is often difficult for patients to return to another professional for emotional support and treatment.
One therapist’s unethical actions erode their trust in other professionals in the same field, preventing them from getting the care they need.
What Should I Do If I Was in a Sexual Relationship With My Therapist?
It’s important to note that a sexual relationship between a therapist and client cannot be consensual due to this inherent power imbalance.
Each state has a code of ethics and specific regulations that all therapists must follow. When therapists violate ethics guidelines or regulations, they could face penalties and civil action.
In cases involving a sexual relationship, the therapist is negligent long before the relationship begins. When a mental health professional grooms a patient for an inappropriate relationship, this is negligent behavior. They are no longer working to improve the patient’s emotional and mental health. Instead, their care provider has abandoned them for his or her own personal gain.
When this happens to you, you have rights. You can learn more about your legal options for holding the abusive therapist accountable and recovering compensation for your expenses, losses, and emotional injuries by discussing your circumstances with a therapist abuse lawyer.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
How Can I Get Justice for the Therapist Sexual Abuse I Endured?
When a therapist violates serious ethical boundaries and allows transference and countertransference to create an exploitative sexual relationship, they need to be held accountable. These therapists may engage in grooming behaviors before the sexual relationship begins, which could include:
- Long, emotional sessions
- Asking to meet outside of business hours
- Discussing their own personal matters
- Engaging in intimate text, email, or phone conversations
- Offering gifts
- Encouraging dependency
- Contacting by personal means unrelated to the patient’s care
To build a case against them, you will need documentation of these and other similar unethical activities. Your therapist sexual abuse lawyer will work with you to gather evidence while doing everything in their power to avoid retraumatizing you. We have the knowledge and experience to successfully build a compelling case to highlight the unethical, inappropriate, and abusive behaviors and hold the therapist legally responsible.
We also have trauma-informed legal professionals on our team who know how to handle these cases in a way that seeks to protect you in any possible way.
Therapists and their legal teams either attempt to settle these cases quickly and quietly by participating in settlement negotiations, or they fight the claim and deny the allegations or harm done. Your lawyer will fight for fair compensation based on the recoverable damages you endured.
Your related expenses and losses could include:
- Medical care costs and related expenses for physical and mental health needs
- Long-term treatment for the trauma and lasting effects, such as PTSD
- Income losses if the trauma or your treatment requires you to miss work
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
When our therapist abuse attorneys represent a survivor of sexual abuse, they do so based on contingency. You should not need to pay upfront to have an attorney represent you. Instead, we will use our firm’s resources, experience, and knowledge to fight for justice. We only get paid if you do.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Discuss Your Case With Our Team During a Confidential Consultation
Jenner Law has several trauma-informed legal professionals on our team. Our client’s needs always come first, and you can expect us to be cognizant of your experiences and the abuse you endured when you work with our team. We know coming forward and discussing your potential case is not easy. We’re here when you are ready.
Contact us to learn more or for your free, confidential consultation with our team.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form