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.
According to statistics, about 4.4 percent of all therapists admit to having sex with at least one client. In four out of five cases, the offender is male. Those who are exploited are female in eighty- eight to ninety-two percent of reported cases. Some of these are minors.
The effect this has on someone already in emotional distress is devastating. Fourteen percent attempt to take their own lives. One percent have been successful. About eleven percent must be hospitalized as a result of the sexual abuse.
Instead of getting better, the patient who came to an unethical psychotherapist with one disorder may add others. Sometimes clinical depression or anxiety are added. It is a courageous act to come forward and accuse the offender. It saves others from going through similar acts.
Any sexual contact between the psychotherapist and patient is unethical. It is considered to be malpractice in all locations. In some states it is considered criminal conduct and can be prosecuted 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.
The criminal case is dependent on what the victim claims and how the psychotherapist responds. An attorney may state that because the patient is unstable emotionally, she is lying about the abuse. However, if the therapist has been accused in the past, he may look guilty to the jury regardless of what he says.
When a psychotherapist is brought up on charges, or brought before a review board multiple times, it does not indicate his innocence. Ethics in the area of therapist-patient sexual intimacy is not addressed adequately by The American Psychiatric Association. One female psychiatrist resigned from that august organization to protest the lack of concern.
Some professionals believe they are above the law. They show no restraint in initiating sex with a patient. Some are callous enough to claim it is good for the patient. Instead, they view it as unethical for a therapist to report another therapist for engaging in sex with a patient.
Such attitudes are in direct contrast to what most people would consider ethical behavior. Some of these professionals sit on committees of prominent organizations, are administrators of psychiatric institutions and are professors at major universities. Rehabilitation programs for those who are accused do not seem to have much effect on the perpetrators.
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.
According to statistics, about 4.4 percent of all therapists admit to having sex with at least one client. In four out of five cases, the offender is male. Those who are exploited are female in eighty- eight to ninety-two percent of reported cases. Some of these are minors.
The effect this has on someone already in emotional distress is devastating. Fourteen percent attempt to take their own lives. One percent have been successful. About eleven percent must be hospitalized as a result of the sexual abuse.
Instead of getting better, the patient who came to an unethical psychotherapist with one disorder may add others. Sometimes clinical depression or anxiety are added. It is a courageous act to come forward and accuse the offender. It saves others from going through similar acts.
Any sexual contact between the psychotherapist and patient is unethical. It is considered to be malpractice in all locations. In some states it is considered criminal conduct and can be prosecuted 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.
The criminal case is dependent on what the victim claims and how the psychotherapist responds. An attorney may state that because the patient is unstable emotionally, she is lying about the abuse. However, if the therapist has been accused in the past, he may look guilty to the jury regardless of what he says.
When a psychotherapist is brought up on charges, or brought before a review board multiple times, it does not indicate his innocence. Ethics in the area of therapist-patient sexual intimacy is not addressed adequately by The American Psychiatric Association. One female psychiatrist resigned from that august organization to protest the lack of concern.
Some professionals believe they are above the law. They show no restraint in initiating sex with a patient. Some are callous enough to claim it is good for the patient. Instead, they view it as unethical for a therapist to report another therapist for engaging in sex with a patient.
Such attitudes are in direct contrast to what most people would consider ethical behavior. Some of these professionals sit on committees of prominent organizations, are administrators of psychiatric institutions and are professors at major universities. Rehabilitation programs for those who are accused do not seem to have much effect on the perpetrators.
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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