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How To Deal With Emotional Abuse By A Psychotherapist

By Ines Flores


It is disappointing when you trust a psychotherapist who then betrays you by emotional or physical violation. Emotional abuse by a psychotherapist is regarded as a professional crime. It happens when the therapist takes advantage of your vulnerability in the course of treatment. It takes the form of control, manipulation and exploitation. At this point, your interests are not being served and professional boundaries have been crossed.

The signs of danger can be seen when the relationship goes beyond therapy. The two of you begin to relate beyond the limits of a patient and a therapist. The manner of contact, meetings and conversation ceases to be professional. Men should be as worried as women are with adults being abused as much as children. What blinds a person is the trust that a patient has in a doctor.

Male therapists violate male clients in the same way they do to female clients. Female clients dealing with female therapists should also be careful because they are vulnerable as well. When the violation is not checked, it escalates into physical exploitation. The most common form of physical exploitation is engaging in sexual acts with your therapist.

To guarantee safety, patients are advised to understand standard procedures. This enables you to identify when the psychotherapist has crossed his boundaries. Your gut feeling will tell you when something is wrong. The best step is to drop the current therapist and seek an alternative. A second opinion at the earliest opportunity will help you dispel or confirm any suspicion.

Watch out for discussions about other clients, personal matters, uncomfortable or intrusive topics. The essence of therapy is to provide healing. This means that if you feel hurt you must take action immediately. According to experts, the signs of danger exist only that they are ignored in most cases.

Therapists who violate their clients degrade, intimidate, humiliate and shame them. The first sessions should provide healing and reprieve. Any other feeling should be a sign of danger. If the therapist begins to make suggestive comments or engages in intrusive behavior, you are advised to take immediate action. Do not entertain hugging, winking, kissing or sexual contact with any therapist.

It is violating to be pressurized into making a decision or being rushed into one. Observe the language that is used during meetings, emails, calls and text message. It should remain official alongside meeting hours and venues. A therapist who compliments you as being sexy or beautiful is being unethical and therefore abusive.

Maintaining professional distance or space is the best way to avoid violation. Your vulnerability or weakness when seeking therapy should not be exploited. A therapist who makes you dependent on him instead of his services is most likely taking advantage of you. The fact that you missed a session is not a reason to feel personal guilt. An explanation should solve the issue without breeding anxiety.

In case of abuse, talk to your spouse, family, parent or close friend. There are organizations offering help to victims of therapy abuse. The internet has a number of websites with incredible resources. Beyond seeking legal redress, contact the professional body that licenses therapists to ensure that others are not violated as well.




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