If your mental health care provider exploited and abused you, a Denver therapist abuse lawyer with Jenner Law can help you hold this professional accountable.
Situations That Can Constitute Therapy Abuse
You went to a therapist because you needed professional assistance dealing with a difficult situation in your life. If the professional exploited your vulnerability, treated you inappropriately, or misused their position of authority, you might have a claim for therapy abuse.
One of the most common forms of therapy abuse is sexual misconduct on the part of the therapist, grooming the client for a romantic relationship and abandoning the professional relationship. Additional forms of misconduct that can amount to therapy abuse include:
- Financial exploitation
- Substandard treatment
- Abuse of transference
- Psychological abuse
- Improper prescription of drugs and other substances
- Conflicts of interest
- Breach of professional ethics
- Violating professional boundaries
- Encouraging a client to have a dependent attachment
- Violating a position of trust
A healthcare provider or organization can be liable if they hire professional care providers or staff who are incompetent or lack the appropriate training or credentials. The employer can face liability if they fail to follow adequate protocols (like sufficient background checks), supervise staff members, or act when they know or should know about a problem.
Understanding How Abuse Happens Through Transference
One of the most common ways mental health providers exploit patients is through transference. Transference refers to a situation when a client projects feelings that they have for another person onto their therapist. As a result, they may develop intimate, romantic feelings for the therapist.
Therapists have training in handling transference—and they should know how to maintain professional boundaries when it occurs. However, some providers exploit transference to seek emotional, sexual, or financial control of the client.
A therapist can also experience a form of transference. Known as countertransference, the therapist may start to project their mental health issues and feelings onto the client. Again, a good therapist knows how to manage any unethical conflicts such as this that may arise. After all, a therapist’s job is to create an environment where the patient can feel safe receiving the mental health care they need. It is unethical to exploit a patient’s vulnerability in that setting.
Our attorneys know how abuse happens through transference and in many other situations. No matter how you faced abuse, we can help. Therapists who abuse and abandon their clients should face justice.
For a free legal consultation with a therapist abuse lawyer call,
(888) 585-2188
Appropriate Parameters to Protect Therapy Patients
Getting help from a mental health professional requires the patient to make themselves emotionally vulnerable and sacrifice their privacy. Healthcare providers should enforce the following boundaries to avoid misconduct or even the appearance of impropriety with their therapy patients:
- Limiting physical contact to a handshake or a brief, non-romantic hug
- Not sitting too close to the patient, but maintaining an appropriate physical distance
- Limiting the attention to the patient and the issue for which the patient seeks help
- Holding therapy sessions in the office for fixed time limits
- Not having a personal, social, sexual, or business relationship with the patient outside of the office or in the context of psychotherapy
Also, the therapist should refrain from revealing intimate or personal information about themselves to the patient or discussing topics unrelated to the therapy with the patient. When the professional violates these guidelines, the therapist might have committed therapeutic misconduct or abuse.
You Can Afford to Hire Our Denver Therapy Abuse Lawyer for Your Case
Our firm handles therapy abuse cases for a contingency fee, which means that we do not ask for any upfront, hourly, or out-of-pocket legal fees. Your attorney will only take payment if and when they secure compensation for you. That way, you can focus on getting help without the added financial stress.
The last thing you need are additional expenses during this difficult time. You should only worry about your wellbeing right now; we’ll take care of everything else. Our firm believes everyone is entitled to legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. We’re here to make a difference; the most important thing to us is achieving justice for our clients.
There is virtually no financial risk in working with us. We only get paid if we win your case.
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Damages Available in Therapy Abuse Claims
There is no set amount of compensation a plaintiff receives for winning a therapy abuse case. The amount of money damages you might be able to pursue will depend on the facts of your situation.
Some common types of damages people seek in these cases include:
- The reasonable cost of medical treatment, which may include past and future care expenses you sought because of the therapy abuse.
- Pain and suffering damages for the physical discomfort and emotional distress you endured as a result of the therapy abuse.
You might have additional losses that could be a part of your therapy abuse claim. Also, if you lost a loved one because of therapy abuse, you can seek wrongful death compensation.
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Don’t Wait to Take Action for a Denver, CO Therapy Abuse Case
Depending on your circumstances, we might have to go through an extensive preparatory process before we take legal action. Additionally, there are short timelines on filing lawsuits in these cases.
If we decide to file a lawsuit, you must comply with the state’s statute of limitations, which is a deadline by which you need to submit your case in court. If you’re too late, the state may no longer let you pursue compensation.
What You Can Expect from Your Denver, CO Therapy Abuse Lawyer at Our Firm
You have already experienced the anguish of being betrayed by a professional you turned to for help. You can rely on our team to treat you with the respect and dignity that you deserve.
We will take the time to listen to you, answer your questions, and work to hold the at-fault professional accountable for the harm you suffered. In doing so, your Denver lawyer will:
- Collect sufficient evidence
- Prove the other party’s negligence or abuse
- Talk to relevant parties
- Assess the value of your damages
- Fight for a fair settlement
Our abuse attorneys can build a robust case and fight for the justice you deserve.
Getting Legal Help with Your Denver Therapy Abuse Case
After all that you have already suffered, allow a Denver therapist abuse attorney on our team to help you pursue justice. You don’t have to handle your case alone and shouldn’t.
At Jenner Law, we are happy to offer a free consultation. Connect with us today to find out how we can help you. There are no obligations.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form