Cases of counselors abusing clients have been on the rise in recent days. While some cases are reported, others are not and therapists continue abusing their already vulnerable patients. Most reported cases are of sexual abuse, with physical evidence; the guilty counselors are arrested and prosecuted. Emotional abuse by a psychotherapist, however, continues to plague the noble profession unchecked. Most clients do not report it because they are not even aware that it is happening.
There are many reasons why people seek therapy. It is supposed to make clients feel happy, safe and secure. To achieve this, the therapeutic environment should be healthy and stable to build trust between the psychotherapist and client. In a trustworthy relationship, the client is able to express their emotions and feelings for the medical practitioner to help them make sense out of them.
The client-psychotherapist relationship is complicated and is not as easy as it sounds. For starters, the therapist has the power to influence the client who is mostly weak and vulnerable. A non professional psychotherapist takes advantage of the imbalance of power with dire consequences. It is even worse for patients who have been victims of such heinous crimes in the past since violation and therapy may be one and the same thing.
Patients must constantly ask themselves whether their relationship with their therapist is right. The best way to tell this is a close examination of the boundary between you as the patient and the counselor. A healthy should not have blurry relationship boundaries. For instance, you should not be offered therapy at a reduced fee as a favor. In fact, clients should not receive favors from their therapists.
Blurry relationships may also be signaled by the length of time a session lasts. Also, the two parties are not allowed to have the same social relationships or belong to same social circles. There should not be a personal relationship between the client and the therapist or the therapists family outside of the office since it could lead to conflicts of interest.
There are a few indicators to show an abusive therapeutic relationship. To start with, comments that degrade, humiliate, manipulate or shame you are a good sign that you fire the therapist. Its alright if the psychotherapist shows you things as they are but if gets out of hand and you feel embarrassed or shamed, it is not right. Also, you should not be made to feel that you need them or that they are the only ones who can help.
The first step is talk to a friend, spouse or parent in an attempt to seek out more information. Also, you might want to check the Internet for help. These sources of information will help you confirm whether your psychotherapist is abusing you. In addition, you may seek another therapist, probably one who does not your previous one. Lastly, you may contact legal counsel, launch a formal complaint with the board or go to the police.
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.
There are many reasons why people seek therapy. It is supposed to make clients feel happy, safe and secure. To achieve this, the therapeutic environment should be healthy and stable to build trust between the psychotherapist and client. In a trustworthy relationship, the client is able to express their emotions and feelings for the medical practitioner to help them make sense out of them.
The client-psychotherapist relationship is complicated and is not as easy as it sounds. For starters, the therapist has the power to influence the client who is mostly weak and vulnerable. A non professional psychotherapist takes advantage of the imbalance of power with dire consequences. It is even worse for patients who have been victims of such heinous crimes in the past since violation and therapy may be one and the same thing.
Patients must constantly ask themselves whether their relationship with their therapist is right. The best way to tell this is a close examination of the boundary between you as the patient and the counselor. A healthy should not have blurry relationship boundaries. For instance, you should not be offered therapy at a reduced fee as a favor. In fact, clients should not receive favors from their therapists.
Blurry relationships may also be signaled by the length of time a session lasts. Also, the two parties are not allowed to have the same social relationships or belong to same social circles. There should not be a personal relationship between the client and the therapist or the therapists family outside of the office since it could lead to conflicts of interest.
There are a few indicators to show an abusive therapeutic relationship. To start with, comments that degrade, humiliate, manipulate or shame you are a good sign that you fire the therapist. Its alright if the psychotherapist shows you things as they are but if gets out of hand and you feel embarrassed or shamed, it is not right. Also, you should not be made to feel that you need them or that they are the only ones who can help.
The first step is talk to a friend, spouse or parent in an attempt to seek out more information. Also, you might want to check the Internet for help. These sources of information will help you confirm whether your psychotherapist is abusing you. In addition, you may seek another therapist, probably one who does not your previous one. Lastly, you may contact legal counsel, launch a formal complaint with the board or go to the police.
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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