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.
People seek therapy for many reasons. Therapeutic sessions are meant to help patients feel secure, safe and happy again. For this to happen, both the therapist and client should create a healthy and stable environment in order to develop trust. Its only in a trustworthy relationship that a client expresses their feelings or emotions about specific things disturbing their peace.
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.
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 you suspect your therapist is abusing you, take the necessary action before its too late. You may want to talk to someone you trust such as a friend, spouse or parent about your concerns. The internet can also be helpful in confirming whether your counseling therapy has gone beyond borders. Alternatively, another therapist, preferably one who does not know your previous counselor would help. Legal counsel, reporting them to their respective board or the police may also be of help.
Emotional abuse is a trauma by itself. It is even worse if it is orchestrated by someone you trusted. Patients who have been abused before are probably the most vulnerable. The net result is more emotional burdens for the patients who sometimes become suicidal.
People seek therapy for many reasons. Therapeutic sessions are meant to help patients feel secure, safe and happy again. For this to happen, both the therapist and client should create a healthy and stable environment in order to develop trust. Its only in a trustworthy relationship that a client expresses their feelings or emotions about specific things disturbing their peace.
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.
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 you suspect your therapist is abusing you, take the necessary action before its too late. You may want to talk to someone you trust such as a friend, spouse or parent about your concerns. The internet can also be helpful in confirming whether your counseling therapy has gone beyond borders. Alternatively, another therapist, preferably one who does not know your previous counselor would help. Legal counsel, reporting them to their respective board or the police may also be of help.
Emotional abuse is a trauma by itself. It is even worse if it is orchestrated by someone you trusted. Patients who have been abused before are probably the most vulnerable. The net result is more emotional burdens for the patients who sometimes become suicidal.
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