Therapists are not allowed to have any sort of physical, romantic, or sexual relationship with their patients. If you had such a relationship with your therapist—or, more accurately, if your therapist groomed you for such a relationship—then yes, it is therapist abuse.
A therapist sexual abuse lawyer in Tennessee can tell you more about the laws that apply to your situation and how you can recover fair compensation.
What if the Physical Relationship With Your Therapist Was Consensual?
There is no such thing as a consensual physical relationship between therapists and patients. The therapist holds a position of power over their patient. They are responsible for that patient’s welfare and can chose to:
- Withhold treatment if they do not get what they want
- Use their position to groom the patient to welcome their advances and view this new aspect of their relationship as normal
- Convince the patient that a physical relationship is part of therapy or will somehow help them
Therapist Abuse and the Transference Phenomenon
Physical relationships between therapists and patients are often the result of something called transference. Transference occurs when the patient projects or experiences very close feelings for their therapist. Up to a point, it is a normal part of therapy. It only becomes abusive when the therapist:
- Actively encourages a dependent or inappropriate relationship
- Fails to take adequate steps to address the transference
- Coerces the patient into a physical relationship
It is always therapist abuse if you have a physical relationship with your therapist. No matter who initially suggested the relationship or how it came about, it is always the result of an unhealthy therapeutic relationship.
For a free legal consultation, call,
(888) 585-2188
Why Are Therapists Not Allowed to Have Physical Relationships With Patients?
There is an inherent power imbalance between therapists and their patients. Patients depend on therapists to maintain a professional distance in order to help them cope with trauma and mental distress. Once these boundaries are breached, the patient can no longer trust the therapist to provide the kind of treatment that they need.
Any form of abuse can do serious harm to the patient. This can include physical/sexual relationships, receiving or giving gifts, and abandonment.
Therapist Standards Vary From State to State
Since each state has its own code of ethics, there are some variations between these codes.
For instance, Maryland’s Code of Maryland Regulations § 10.58.03.09 prevents therapists from ever having a physical relationship with a patient, while other states permit such a relationship once the therapist has not seen the patient for a number of years (e.g., two years under South Carolina’s Code of Ethics for Professional Counselors).
Physical Relationships Are Always Therapist Abuse
For all the different codes of ethics, they have one thing in common: they ban therapist sexual abuse, explicitly and unequivocally. This includes both harassment and any form of non-professional relationship.
If you were involved in an abusive relationship with your therapist, or if you are still not sure if your relationship counts as abusive, talk to a therapist abuse law firm. We can assess your situation in a compassionate and confidential way.
What Can You Do After an Act of Therapist Abuse?
You have the right to find a lawyer who has experience with therapist abuse cases to represent you in any legal action you take against your abuser. A therapist sexual abuse attorney can help you hold your therapist accountable and fight for monetary compensation.
Filing a Case Against an Abusive Therapist
The amount of time you have to file your case varies from state to state. In general, it is a good idea to talk about your case with our therapist abuse law firm as soon as you can. This protects your right to compensation and gives us more time to:
- Gather evidence that proves your abusive therapist started an exploitative relationship (your testimony is an important part of your case, but it should be supported by other sources so as to persuade your therapist to pay compensation)
- Establish your case’s value so they know how much money to ask for on your behalf
- Open communications with your therapist to tell them about your lawsuit and see how they plan to respond to it
- Negotiate with your therapist by showing the evidence against them and trying to convince them that settling out of court is in everyone’s best interest
- Go over all settlement offers with you so you know the terms of the agreement and what you will get out of it if you sign
- Take your case to trial, if your therapist refuses to negotiate in good faith or to respond to your lawsuit at all
Getting Compensation After an Abusive Therapeutic Relationship
It is part of your attorney’s job to assess your case and figure out how much it is worth in financial terms. They will evaluate all of the following factors and others as they work on calculating a fair settlement:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Medical bills
- Loss of wages, if the abuse has affected your ability to work
Have Questions? Ask Your Therapist Abuse Lawyer
It is normal to feel conflicted and confused about both the abuse and what you should do about it. A good attorney can help you cut through your mixed feelings and provide a clearer understanding of your rights and legal options.
Once you hire a trauma-informed therapist sexual abuse lawyer from our firm, they will be there for you from the beginning of your case until the very end. You can turn to us with questions at any time, and we will fight relentlessly to hold your therapist accountable so you can start the process of moving forward with your life.
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Our Lawyers Will Help You Hold Your Abusive Therapist Accountable
At Jenner Law, no client gets lost in the shuffle. We provide the personal attention you deserve if you had a physical relationship with your therapist and now wish to sue them for therapist abuse. Call us when you are ready to learn about your rights for free.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form