Abusive Therapists
People often seek therapy when they are at their lowest. The therapist is meant to be their guide in a journey of healing. It takes a lot of effort to get from this position for intense vulnerability to a satisfied and productive state. But the journey is not always smooth. The process of therapy itself can be challenging for any person especially if they are in a delicate state. It can take a turn for the dangerous if the therapist is not up to the mark. But an incompetent therapist is still better than a malicious therapist. There are those in the fraternity who secretly take advantage of their patients’ state and use them when they are at their weakest.
Warning Signs of Questionable/Bad Therapist
There are some warning signs that you may be seeing a bad therapist. If any of these red flags are present, it’s important to discontinue therapy and find a new therapist right away.
Warning Signs of Questionable Therapist
They make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe
They don’t seem to listen to you or understand your issues
They’re judgmental or dismissive of your feelings
They’re always trying to fix you or tell you what to do
They use therapy as a way to control or manipulate you
They’re always late or cancel appointments last minute
Their fees are too high or they try to bill you for extra sessions
They’re always trying to sell you products or services
They violate your privacy or share confidential information without your consent
They’re unethical or have a history of complaints against them.
If you experience any of these warning signs, it’s important to find a new therapist right away. Don’t be afraid to ask friends or family for recommendations, or do a quick Google search to find a therapist who is a good fit for you.
People Who Can Help
Such abuse by a therapist is heinous and reprehensible. People who suffer through it find it difficult to reach out and seek help. What is worse is that their journey of healing hits further roadblocks as it gets more difficult to feel safe with their next therapist. Specific support groups and dedicated organizations help people manage their transition from an abusive therapist to someone trustworthy. There are many people who have been through such situations. Their experience helps them guide others through these troubling times.
How Can They Help?
People who have been through abuse by a therapist need the help of a robust network of peers. By sharing their experience and listening to the experiences of others, they can accept their situation. This allows the next essential steps to occur and patients find the courage to take action and resume their journey of recovery. But understanding clear psychotherapeutic boundaries these people can equip themselves better for their next therapist. This process is aided by referral to suitable reading resources and discussions. Besides practical advice, they also need referrals to attorneys and safe psychotherapists. All this is easier to come by from a network of peers who have been through similar experiences.
Who Reaches Out?
Although there are many people who suffer from therapist abuse they are not themselves the only ones who reach out to seek help regarding the issue. People getting in touch with therapist abuse peer networks can include the following:
· Administrators of practices who are concerned about protocols to avoid therapist abuse.
· Therapists who know of other therapists that are likely to be engaged in abusing patients.
· People who know others who have been abused by a therapist.
· People who want to learn about psychotherapeutic boundaries
· Lawyers representing victims of therapist abuse.
· Researchers or journalists trying to shed light on therapist abuse.
What Therapist Abuse Supports Groups Do Not Do
Therapist abuse peer networks are not usually equipped to deal with other instances of abuse besides in the context of therapy and perpetrated by a therapist towards a patient. They do not refer people to specific therapists they should go to next. They also do not provide specific legal solutions. These are usually run by voluntary participants who have been through similar situations and not seek profit or donations. They also do not save information on the victims or offer psychotherapy. Organizations that include licensed therapists are better equipped to direct an abuse victim to a trustworthy therapist.
If You Have Concerns Regarding Therapy or Your Therapist
If you have concerns about the safety or appropriateness of your therapy relationship, in most cases the best first step is to bring these to the attention of your therapist. In many cases, there may have been a miscommunication of some sort and your therapist will be grateful to you for bringing this to their attention so it can be addressed. (Good therapists want to help you feel better!)
If this does not seem possible or reasonable in your circumstances, you are always free to seek a second opinion from another therapist. Although it’s rarely advisable to have multiple concurrent therapists, one session to consult with a different therapist about how your therapy is going and explore the possibility of changing to a therapist who may be a better fit for you is always a reasonable step.
NEED HELP?
Collaborative Therapeutic Services (CTS) wants to help. We offer a variety of counselling and therapy services, hours, and service providers with diverse specializations. We offer evening & weekend appointments in office or by TeleHealth conferencing.
Have questions? Contact Us Here or Call 813-951-7346. Located in Tampa, Florida. Ask us about our new NEUROLEASE® TREATMENT THERAPY - A cutting edge treatment for releasing toxic emotions.