Choosing to seek therapy is a courageous step that involves placing significant trust in your therapist. You open up about your most personal struggles, traumas, and vulnerabilities, expecting a safe and supportive environment to heal and grow. A therapist should always have your best interests at heart and maintain strict ethical boundaries.
Therapist abuse is a serious violation and can have traumatic impacts on mental health, making matters worse. It’s important to know how to recognize signs of abuse so you can protect yourself and take action if you choose, and a Michigan therapist abuse lawyer can help if you believe you may be experiencing abuse. At White Law PLLC, we have secured over $1.4 Billion in damages.
Understand What Therapist Abuse Entails
Therapist abuse is considered negligence and is when a mental health professional violates their duty of care and takes advantage of the therapist-client relationship. This type of abuse can show up as sexual misconduct, emotional manipulation, or authoritative control. The consequences of therapist abuse are devastating as a client seeking help is in such a vulnerable state.
Abusive therapists abuse their authoritative power and client trust for their own gratification or gain. They may manipulate you, violate your consent, gaslight you, or use your personal information against you. This is not only unethical but also illegal.
If you’re wondering whether your therapist’s behavior is abusive, you should always trust your instincts. You have the right to feel safe, respected, and supported in therapy, and it’s crucial to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Reporting therapist abuse is never easy, but it’s an important step to protect yourself and prevent an abusive therapist from harming others.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Common Signs of Therapist Abuse
Violating the code of ethical standards of therapy is a serious breach that can have harmful consequences for clients seeking help and support. While most therapists adhere to strict ethical guidelines and prioritize their clients’ well-being, some may engage in harmful behaviors that exploit the vulnerable nature of the therapeutic relationship. Everyone in therapy should be aware of the signs of potential abuse so they can protect themselves and seek appropriate help if needed.
Sexual Misconduct
One of the most egregious forms of therapist abuse is sexual misconduct, and it is beneficial to have a Michigan sexual abuse lawyer on your side for this. This includes any sexual contact, from inappropriate touching to intercourse. Therapists should never flirt with you, make sexual comments, or suggest meeting outside of therapy, even if framed as part of treatment.
Other signs can be more subtle, like commenting on your appearance, sharing sexual details about themselves, or steering discussions excessively to sexual topics. If a therapist engages in sexual misconduct, it’s never your fault, even if you felt emotionally connected to them. Michigan considers any sexual contact between a therapist and a current or former client to be unprofessional conduct, and signs of sexual misconduct by a therapist can include:
- Inappropriate touching during sessions
- Making sexual comments or jokes
- Asking you on a date or to meet privately
- Sharing details of their own sex life
- Insisting you disclose sexual experiences
Emotional Manipulation
Therapy should be an emotionally safe space where you feel supported and validated. An abusive therapist may instead use tactics of emotional manipulation to control or demean you. They may play on your insecurities, minimizing your concerns or blaming you for your struggles.
Some emotionally abusive therapists are judgmental, critical, or dismissive. They may disregard your boundaries, like pushing you to discuss things you’re not ready for or violating your confidentiality. Trust your instincts if interactions with your therapist leave you feeling small, inadequate, or guilty.
Gaslighting is another emotionally abusive tactic, where a therapist denies your experiences and makes you doubt your own perceptions. For example, if you confront them about a hurtful comment, they may deny ever saying it and act like you’re being oversensitive or irrational. Over time, gaslighting is crazy-making and can make you mistrust yourself.
Breaches of Confidentiality
Trust is the most important component when someone is seeking help from therapy. You expect confidentiality when you share your innermost thoughts and experiences with a therapist. While there are a few legal and ethical exceptions where a therapist may disclose information to protect your safety or the safety of others, these situations are rare.
An abusive therapist may threaten to share your private information or actually violate your confidentiality. For example, they might mention personal details to your family members or other professionals without your consent. They could also blackmail you by threatening to expose sensitive information if you try to end therapy or report their misconduct.
Maintaining client confidentiality is not only an ethical duty but also a legal one. The Mental Health Professionals’ Duty to warn requires therapists to protect client confidentiality with only a few well-defined exceptions, such as reporting child abuse or serious threats of violence. If your therapist has violated your privacy, you can file a complaint with their licensing board and consider legal action.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
What to Do if You Suspect Therapist Abuse
Experiencing abuse from a therapist can make you feel powerless, confused, and full of self-doubt. But you don’t have to suffer in silence. If you suspect your therapist of abusive or unethical behavior, remember that it is wrong, and you deserve safety, respect, and proper care.
Remember to document any incidents of inappropriate behavior, including what was said or done, along with the time and location it took place. This evidence can be helpful if you choose to file a complaint or take legal action.
Confide in a trusted friend or family member about what’s happening, or consult with another mental health professional or a victims’ advocate for support and guidance.
You can file a complaint of misconduct to the licensing boards for therapists, such as the Michigan Board of Counseling These boards investigate ethical violations and can discipline therapists, including revoking their license to practice. If a crime has been committed, you may also choose to file a police report, which may help speed up the timeframe to settle your case.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Get Help if You’ve Experienced Therapist Abuse in Michigan
If you believe you’ve been the victim of therapist abuse, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. You have the right to ethical, professional therapy from someone you can trust.
Speaking to a compassionate Michigan therapist abuse attorney can provide much-needed support and guidance as you take steps to protect yourself and hold abusive therapists accountable so you can move forward in your healing.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.