The practice of psychotherapy has been marred with cases of abuse for years. There are two ways therapists abusing their clients-emotionally and sexually. Sexual abuse has been checked by patients who report it to the relevant bodies and the responsible counselors arrested and prosecuted. The other form, emotional abuse by a psychotherapist has not been checked because victims rarely report it.
People go to therapy for a myriad of reasons. However, basically, it helps them gain security, safety and happiness in their lives. In a healthy and stable environment created by both parties, the client is able to open up about their innermost secrets, concerns and issues. To create such a stable and healthy environment, there should be trust between the patient and counselor.
The client-therapist relationship is, however, complicated. There is an imbalance of power with the counselor having a significant amount of power or influence over the client. Consequently, the relationship is open to abuse. Clients with a history of abuse are the most vulnerable because they may not differentiate between therapy and violation.
The good thing is that it is easy to differentiate between acts of therapy and those of violation. However, to do so, patients must always be on the watch out. The best way to achieve this is to examine the boundaries of the relationship between the therapist and client. The line between professional and personal relationship between the counselor and therapist should not feel blurry at all.
Another indicator of a blurry relationship is sessions that have no defined period of time. In addition, the client and therapist should not belong to the same social circles or attend similar events, professional or otherwise. In addition, the therapist must respect you as a client and adhere to professional guidelines on how he or she should treat you.
After examining the relationship, start looking at how the therapist treats you. If you feel like he or she is abusing you, its probably right, go with your instinct on this one. Do they give humiliating, degrading, manipulative or intimidating things to you? Or do they make you feel hopeless or that you are absolutely dependent on them. When you miss a session, do you feel anxious?
If the description above fits you, it may be time to move out of the relationship. You may want to see another therapist, preferably one who does not know your previous one. Also, talk to your friend or someone you trust like a parent or spouse. Legal action may be necessary also because the law protects patients from abuse. In addition, consider launching a formal complaint with the board so that no one else goes through your experience.
It is traumatizing to be emotionally abused, especially, if done by someone you completely trusted. It is worse for patients who have been abused before. Some of them add to the emotional burdens they are carrying while others become suicidal.
People go to therapy for a myriad of reasons. However, basically, it helps them gain security, safety and happiness in their lives. In a healthy and stable environment created by both parties, the client is able to open up about their innermost secrets, concerns and issues. To create such a stable and healthy environment, there should be trust between the patient and counselor.
The client-therapist relationship is, however, complicated. There is an imbalance of power with the counselor having a significant amount of power or influence over the client. Consequently, the relationship is open to abuse. Clients with a history of abuse are the most vulnerable because they may not differentiate between therapy and violation.
The good thing is that it is easy to differentiate between acts of therapy and those of violation. However, to do so, patients must always be on the watch out. The best way to achieve this is to examine the boundaries of the relationship between the therapist and client. The line between professional and personal relationship between the counselor and therapist should not feel blurry at all.
Another indicator of a blurry relationship is sessions that have no defined period of time. In addition, the client and therapist should not belong to the same social circles or attend similar events, professional or otherwise. In addition, the therapist must respect you as a client and adhere to professional guidelines on how he or she should treat you.
After examining the relationship, start looking at how the therapist treats you. If you feel like he or she is abusing you, its probably right, go with your instinct on this one. Do they give humiliating, degrading, manipulative or intimidating things to you? Or do they make you feel hopeless or that you are absolutely dependent on them. When you miss a session, do you feel anxious?
If the description above fits you, it may be time to move out of the relationship. You may want to see another therapist, preferably one who does not know your previous one. Also, talk to your friend or someone you trust like a parent or spouse. Legal action may be necessary also because the law protects patients from abuse. In addition, consider launching a formal complaint with the board so that no one else goes through your experience.
It is traumatizing to be emotionally abused, especially, if done by someone you completely trusted. It is worse for patients who have been abused before. Some of them add to the emotional burdens they are carrying while others become suicidal.
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