When there is sexual abuse in the psychotherapist-patient relationship, that patient suffers. This situation is caused by a professional with low ethical standards. The patient who suffers emotional abuse by a psychotherapist can take legal action.
Over four percent of therapists confess to engaging in sexual contact with the client. The accused is male in the preponderance of cases. Eight-eight to ninety-two percent of the victims are women. Many are not of legal age.
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.
There is never a time when sex between the psychotherapist and patient is ethical. All states consider it to be malpractice at the very least. Many states call it criminal conduct prosecutable in a court of law.
The abused patient has three ways in which to respond. She file charges in criminal court. She can lodge a complaint with the state licensing board. She can also file a claim in civil court.
A civil court can award money for damages. Punitive damages may be added to punish the offender. The best way for the victim to proceed is to engage the services of an attorney. An attorney can give legal advice plus represent her in court as the case proceeds. The laws in each state may vary.
In court it becomes a matter of who said what. A defense attorney may use the tactic of calling the patient a liar and pointing out the fact that she is unstable. When a psychotherapist faces a similar charge multiple times he loses his credibility. A jury will not view him the same way if there have been previous incidents.
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.
Most people would consider that ludicrous. These professionals are highly educated and hold prominent positions in society. They include professors and administrators of psychiatric institutions. Those accused return to the same behavior after being cleared of charges. Rehabilitation programs have not shown good results.
It was found that recidivism occurred among the therapists as often as the general population of sex offenders. The recidivism rate is very high. Education, economic status and social position do not seem to make any difference.
Over four percent of therapists confess to engaging in sexual contact with the client. The accused is male in the preponderance of cases. Eight-eight to ninety-two percent of the victims are women. Many are not of legal age.
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.
There is never a time when sex between the psychotherapist and patient is ethical. All states consider it to be malpractice at the very least. Many states call it criminal conduct prosecutable in a court of law.
The abused patient has three ways in which to respond. She file charges in criminal court. She can lodge a complaint with the state licensing board. She can also file a claim in civil court.
A civil court can award money for damages. Punitive damages may be added to punish the offender. The best way for the victim to proceed is to engage the services of an attorney. An attorney can give legal advice plus represent her in court as the case proceeds. The laws in each state may vary.
In court it becomes a matter of who said what. A defense attorney may use the tactic of calling the patient a liar and pointing out the fact that she is unstable. When a psychotherapist faces a similar charge multiple times he loses his credibility. A jury will not view him the same way if there have been previous incidents.
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.
Most people would consider that ludicrous. These professionals are highly educated and hold prominent positions in society. They include professors and administrators of psychiatric institutions. Those accused return to the same behavior after being cleared of charges. Rehabilitation programs have not shown good results.
It was found that recidivism occurred among the therapists as often as the general population of sex offenders. The recidivism rate is very high. Education, economic status and social position do not seem to make any difference.
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