Therapist Abuse or Exploitation
This is a space for you.
Marla McCaffrey, LMSW
Treating PTSD, complex trauma, therapist abuse/exploitation, and anxiety and depression in Michigan
In-person and virtual psychotherapy
“Those most at risk of becoming prey are not personality disordered but are well-built ships battered in high seas and then attacked by pirates disguised as therapists. With a safe harbor discovered, most can restore themselves as the creative, intelligent and otherwise capable people they are.”
-Brooks Mitchell, Senior TELL Responder 1/14/2022
Therapist abuse or exploitation is a specific form of trauma.
Therapy is supposed to be a safe place that is all about your needs, goals, thoughts and feelings. The process should always be with your healing and growing as the number one priority. Most therapists are professionals who work within accepted boundaries, but some ignore those ethical and sometimes legal boundaries and use your openness and trust to develop an abusive or exploitive relationship with you. Such abuse from what was a space of trust can have long-lasting and harmful effects on your mental health. Let me be abundantly clear. THIS WAS NOT YOUR FAULT! In addition to the symptoms of PTSD, there can be distinct aspects of this type of trauma, including:
Ambivalence
Extreme guilt and shame.
Emptiness and isolation.
Sexual confusion.
Impaired trust.
Betrayal trauma
Identity, boundary and role confusion
Suppressed rage.
Increased suicidal risk.
Boundary violations of this type are unethical, unprofessional and severely damaging.
Perhaps a former therapist became the “patient” and their needs and wants became the focus.
Perhaps a former therapist fraudulently presented sexual activity as a valid treatment for sexual or other types of difficulties.
Perhaps a former therapist created and then exploited exaggerated dependence on your part, or attempted to isolate you from friends and family.
Perhaps a former therapist seduced (or groomed) you into a “romantic relationship”, despite the fact that the power dynamic does not favor you, nor can that be true consent.
Perhaps the former therapist offered services “in trade”, such as asking you to do tasks in exchange for therapy.
Abuse and exploitation by a therapist often leave the victim in a state of anguish that compares to little else.
The good news is that most victims do recover, and often emerge from their experience feeling stronger and more authentically themselves than they did before!
You can, too.
You can learn self-compassion in order to resolve the feelings of guilt and shame that belong not to you, but to the therapist.
You can become your own safe person.
You can learn to trust, maybe for the first time, yourself. Then, other people too.
You can get clarity on who you are and learn healthy boundaries.
You can experience transformation, and become who you choose to be.
You can have safety, joy, peace, purpose, meaning and love.
