When an unhealthy relationship exists between patient and psychotherapist he or she will not benefit. This situation happens due to the professional having poor ethical standards. Whenever the patient suffers emotional abuse by a psychotherapist, legal action can be taken.
Statistically speaking, approximately 4.4 percent of therapists admit to having sex with a client. The offending therapist is a male in four cases out of five. Those exploited are female in 88 to 92 percent of all reported cases. Some are minors.
This sexual abuse has a disturbing effect on someone who is already emotionally unstable. Fourteen percent try to kill themselves. One percent is successful at it. Over ten percent have to spend time in the hospital.
The patient who came to the unethical therapist with an unrelated disorder, can end up with clinical depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. The patient who comes forward and reports the abuse is courageous. It requires great strength to do so.
It is always unethical for a psychotherapist to have sexual contact with the patient. All states view it as malpractice. In some of those states it is a criminal offense that can be charged and prosecuted in a court of law.
There are three possible courses of action. The patient may file a civil lawsuit. She may file a criminal complaint in some states. As an alternative to legal action, she may complain to the state licensing board in her state of residence.
She may be able to collect damages in a civil court. It can pay medical bills and fund future therapy with a new psychotherapist. Laws vary from state to state. It is best to contact an attorney before embarking on any course of action.
The criminal case brought against a psychotherapist depends largely on what the patient claims opposed to what the therapist denies. The attorney defending the therapist may use the tactic of claiming the patient is unstable and therefore, likely to be lying. If one psychotherapist, however, is accused by other patients, he is more likely to appear guilty to the jury.
Numerous incidents of this nature are not likely to speak well for him. It does not indicate innocence when more than one person claims abuse. Ethics in this area have not been viewed seriously in the past. In fact, one prominent female psychiatrist resigned from The American Psychiatric Association due to its lack of concern regarding complaints brought by patients.
There are psychotherapists with the highest level of competency who consider themselves exempt from restraint in having sexual contact with patients. They claim they do it to benefit the patient. Some of these individuals feel it is unethical to report other therapists they know are having sexual contact with patients.
Attitudes like this are in blatant contrast to what the average person would consider ethical. These offenders are astute professionals who sit on committees, have positions of authority and hold professorships at universities.
The recidivism rate remains high. These professionals are repeat offenders as often as sex offenders from other segments of the population. Taking away their license to practice seems to be the only thing that will bring about significant change.
Statistically speaking, approximately 4.4 percent of therapists admit to having sex with a client. The offending therapist is a male in four cases out of five. Those exploited are female in 88 to 92 percent of all reported cases. Some are minors.
This sexual abuse has a disturbing effect on someone who is already emotionally unstable. Fourteen percent try to kill themselves. One percent is successful at it. Over ten percent have to spend time in the hospital.
The patient who came to the unethical therapist with an unrelated disorder, can end up with clinical depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. The patient who comes forward and reports the abuse is courageous. It requires great strength to do so.
It is always unethical for a psychotherapist to have sexual contact with the patient. All states view it as malpractice. In some of those states it is a criminal offense that can be charged and prosecuted in a court of law.
There are three possible courses of action. The patient may file a civil lawsuit. She may file a criminal complaint in some states. As an alternative to legal action, she may complain to the state licensing board in her state of residence.
She may be able to collect damages in a civil court. It can pay medical bills and fund future therapy with a new psychotherapist. Laws vary from state to state. It is best to contact an attorney before embarking on any course of action.
The criminal case brought against a psychotherapist depends largely on what the patient claims opposed to what the therapist denies. The attorney defending the therapist may use the tactic of claiming the patient is unstable and therefore, likely to be lying. If one psychotherapist, however, is accused by other patients, he is more likely to appear guilty to the jury.
Numerous incidents of this nature are not likely to speak well for him. It does not indicate innocence when more than one person claims abuse. Ethics in this area have not been viewed seriously in the past. In fact, one prominent female psychiatrist resigned from The American Psychiatric Association due to its lack of concern regarding complaints brought by patients.
There are psychotherapists with the highest level of competency who consider themselves exempt from restraint in having sexual contact with patients. They claim they do it to benefit the patient. Some of these individuals feel it is unethical to report other therapists they know are having sexual contact with patients.
Attitudes like this are in blatant contrast to what the average person would consider ethical. These offenders are astute professionals who sit on committees, have positions of authority and hold professorships at universities.
The recidivism rate remains high. These professionals are repeat offenders as often as sex offenders from other segments of the population. Taking away their license to practice seems to be the only thing that will bring about significant change.
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