Therapists and counselors use their knowledge of psychology and human nature to assist people who are struggling with their mental and emotional health. Whether you seek therapy to help you cope with grief or to find the tools you need to cope with mental illness in your daily life, you trust your therapist to act in your best interests.
The level of trust that exists between therapists and their patients is critical for successful treatment. Unfortunately, some therapists take advantage of their patients’ vulnerability, using their influence to exploit or abuse the client. Such abuse can manifest as verbal or mental abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse, and more.
At Jenner Law, we know that therapy abuse can affect patients for years to come. Our therapy abuse lawyers understand how unscrupulous therapists can use feelings of intimacy and emotional transference to manipulate patients into nonconsensual relationships. Our Fort Worth therapist abuse lawyers firmly believe in holding abusive therapists responsible for their actions and will work to defend your right to fair compensation for losses you incurred due to therapy abuse.
Jenner Law: Dedicated Fort Worth Therapy Abuse Lawyers
If you or a loved one have experienced abuse at the hands of a therapist, you deserve justice. You deserve to be fairly represented by an attorney who believes you and understands Texas laws pertaining to therapy abuse, medical malpractice, and personal injury. The legal team at Jenner Law has experience working with therapy abuse victims from a variety of angles.
We understand the psychological and emotional toll that therapy abuse can take, and how difficult it can be to withstand criticism and disbelief in order to stand up for your rights. Our therapy abuse lawyers are committed to providing victims of therapy abuse with compassionate, attentive representation through every step of the legal process.
Regardless of the nature of your mistreatment by a therapist, you deserve to be heard. Our therapy abuse lawyers will listen to your story and help you determine whether you have grounds for a claim. If we move forward with your case, we will compile evidence, establish the monetary value for your losses, and vigorously represent you in negotiations and in court.
For a free legal consultation with a therapist abuse lawyer call,
(888) 585-2188
What Is Therapy Abuse?
As mental health practitioners, therapists have a duty of care to ensure the emotional and psychological well-being of their patients. The therapist-patient relationship often establishes a sort of parent-child emotional relationship. This phenomenon, known as transference, can create a power dynamic that allows the therapist to take advantage of their patient’s vulnerability. By violating their duty of care and using their influence for self-gain, the therapist is engaging in therapy abuse.
Therapy abuse can take many forms and may include:
- Verbal or physical violence by the therapist
- Disrespectful or belittling behavior toward the patient by the therapist
- Emotional manipulation
- Violation of the patient’s personal space, including sitting too close or inappropriate touching
- Violation of professional boundaries, such as contacting the client outside the office
- Breach of confidentiality
- Prescribing unnecessary treatment or medication
- Extending treatment by developing dependency to increase the therapist’s income
- The therapist divulging personal or intimate information about themselves to the client
- Social, sexual, or romantic relations between the therapist and patient
Due to the uneven power dynamic between the patient and therapist, it can be difficult for patients to determine when a boundary has been violated. If you or a loved one have experienced therapy abuse, an injury attorney with experience handling therapy abuse cases can help you determine your next steps.
Can I Sue My Therapist for Abuse in Fort Worth?
According to Texas Administrative Code Rule §133.47 and §465.13, medical practitioners, including therapists, psychiatrists, and other mental health workers, must adhere to strict guidelines that safeguard the health and well-being of patients. If a therapist violates these requirements, the patient may sue the therapist for damages incurred as a result of the therapist’s violation of their duty of care.
There are a number of conditions that affect your ability to file a lawsuit against an abusive therapist in Texas. For example, Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Chapter 81 allows victims of sexual exploitation to sue for damages related to the abuse, including mental anguish and other associated losses. Other types of abuse, such as financial abuse or breach of confidentiality, may be covered under different Texas laws.
In addition, therapy abuse cases can be difficult to prove, so it is best to have an attorney who knows what kind of evidence you need to establish your claim and defend your position in court.
How Much Can I Claim for Therapy Abuse in Texas?
Because every therapy abuse case is different, it is impossible to predict the value of a claim in advance. Our attorneys will examine your case and compile evidence in order to place a fair monetary value on the losses you sustained. This value may differ depending on the damages sustained as a result of the abuse, the age of the patient at the time of the abuse, the medical history of the patient, and a variety of other factors.
Although we cannot predict the amount of your settlement, you can rest assured that we will only take the case if we believe we can obtain a settlement that is worth your time and ours. We work on a contingency basis, which means that if we take your case, you do not pay any fees until and unless you receive a settlement. Rather than charging for a retainer and hourly fees up front, we simply withhold an agreed percentage of the settlement once the case is settled.
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Make Sure You Seek Medical Care After Therapist Abuse
You may be suffering from emotional trauma that can lead to psychological issues after experiencing therapist abuse. It’s important to begin your recovery as soon as possible by seeing a doctor. You may choose to consult both a therapist and a general care practitioner to get an idea of the best treatment options available.
Make sure you follow through with any prescribed treatment plan. You do not want to give an insurer any room to argue that you contributed to your losses. They may try to undervalue or deny a claim if you refuse treatment.
Jenner Law’s Therapy Abuse Attorneys Can Help
If you have suffered injury due to abuse by your therapist, the personal injury attorneys at Jenner Law are here to help. Our compassionate therapy abuse lawyers will examine your case to determine whether you can pursue a claim. If we find your claim is valid, we will file a legal complaint on your behalf.
We will maintain open communication with you throughout the case, so you are aware of the status of your case from the initial complaint through the final settlement. While you may be asked to make a statement and answer questions in a deposition or before the court, we will be with you every step of the way.
Over the past three decades, Managing Partner Robert K. Jenner has established a reputation as an influential and highly successful attorney in Maryland. He has expanded his practice with a dedicated team of attorneys who have extensive knowledge of medical, pharmaceutical, and personal injury claims. After years of handling a variety of therapy abuse cases, the legal team at Jenner Law knows how to successfully pursue compensation for physical and psychological injuries, as well as the economic and non-economic losses you may incur because of your therapist’s abusive practices.
Although our offices are centered in Maryland, we work with experienced lawyers in Texas, and we can assist with therapy abuse cases across the U.S. Reach out to our office today for a free consultatio. Our lawyers will diligently pursue justice and fair compensation for losses you sustained as a result of therapist abuse, misdiagnosis, misconduct, and malpractice.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form