Friday 3 April 2015

By Aimee Schwartz





Recently, cases of counselors abusing their clients have been on the rise. In cases where the cases came to light, they were arrested and prosecuted. Meanwhile, another form of abuse has cropped up, and since it leaves no physical evidence, cases are not reported. Emotional abuse by a psychotherapist is as bad as sexual harassment. It leaves the victim confused and hurting, especially because it is from someone they trusted with their deepest secrets and vulnerabilities.



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-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.



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.



Another way to determine whether the professional and personal relationship boundaries are blurry is indefinite sessions. In addition, belonging to similar social circles or having similar social relationships. The two individuals should not even attend similar parties unless they have discussed the implications. An out of office relationship with the psychotherapist or even members of their family is not allowed at all.



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?



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.



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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