Monday 6 April 2015

Turn To A Different Counselor Before Becoming A Victim Of Therapy Abuse

By Iva Cannon


As is true in any of the helping professions, there are good providers, bad providers and those that are downright damaging. It is a sad situation when the very person whom you turn to for help, is capable of therapy abuse. Fortunately, some of his actions may alert you to the fact that you should seek another therapist.

Trust any feelings you experience during your first appointment. You may sense it if something is not right. It is a mistake to continue with any counselor you are not comfortable with. It could lead to additional problems instead of resolving the ones you have.

There are features of therapy that can alert clients to the fact that a therapist does not use good tactics. You can then turn to another therapist and describe your treatment. If he does not know the one you are doubting, you can obtain an objective opinion on the validity of the treatment being provided.

After a few sessions you will notice two changes. If you do not feel that you are progressing with a resolution to your problem, it is a poor indication. If you do not think your problem can be resolved in the foreseeable future, that is also predictable of failure.

No client should be overly dependent on a therapist. If the therapy seems to be radically different from what your friends have told you, that may be a strong warning signal. You should feel free to question the therapist as to why he is using those tactics. If you are uncomfortable about confronting him, that is not a good sign.

Suggesting separating yourself from friends who do drugs or are alcoholics is a positive sign. However, if you are being dissuaded from mingling with friends and classmates at school, that is not. Separating from an abusive boyfriend is a good suggestion as well.

That would be a definite sign that your therapist is someone you should not be spending time with. Any physical contact is not acceptable. Even when a patient encourages such advances, it is up to the professional to stop it.

The psychologist is a person and may have human problems and frailties. They should not be a topic to discuss during your sessions. You are the focus of the therapy, not the therapist.

There are other caveats to be aware of. If any of these arise consider them as serious warnings. You may be offered an unrealistically low price for your treatment. While many offer a sliding scale so they can accommodate everyone, it should be an amount that is adequate compensation.

If he bills your insurance company for sessions that were not provided, it is an illegal act. If you do not report it you could be considered an accomplice in insurance fraud. If you are a self-pay client, you should always pay on time.

Always demand to be treated with respect. Also, do not hesitate to question anything that may seem suspicious. It is difficult to stand up to a therapist when you are insecure to begin with. However, if there are any doubts about the validity of your treatment, change to a different psychologist.




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