The therapist-client relationship is one built on trust. However, these relationships naturally present a power imbalance that can be misused to exploit a patient. If you believe your therapist has breached their standard of care and committed malpractice, a Mesa therapist abuse lawyer at our firm can help you.
At Jenner Law, we’ve seen firsthand how abuse of the therapist-client relationship can cause lasting physical, financial, and psychological harm, and we’re committed to seeking justice for therapy abuse survivors. Don’t live in silence – seek our therapy abuse lawyer’s assistance today.
What Constitutes Therapy Abuse?
Therapy abuse occurs when a therapist deviates from accepted industry standards, resulting in patient harm. Psychotherapy is a vulnerable relationship between you and your mental health care practitioner. Because of this, therapists are held to a higher standard of care and with that comes strict boundaries.
These boundaries include, but aren’t limited to:
- Physically distancing themselves from the patient
- Pursuing no physical contact other than a handshake or non-sexual hug
- Starting and finishing sessions on time
- Not pursuing contact outside of the office
- Focusing on the patient’s problems at all times
- No divulging of intimate information from the therapist
- No relationships with the patient outside of psychotherapy
If a therapist or mental health care practitioner has breached these boundaries and caused harm, they may be guilty of therapy abuse.
Common Types of Therapy Abuse
As medical professionals, therapists hold significant influence over their clients, so they know to take caution in how they conduct themselves. Whether the harm is caused intentionally or unintentionally, the consequences are all the same.
Some common types of therapy abuse are:
- Inappropriate or excessive self-disclosure
- The sexual abuse of a current or former patient
- Asking to meet outside of the office
- Offering inappropriate gifts to the patient
- Misdiagnosis
This list is not exhaustive, and mental health professionals may cause harm in many ways. If you believe your therapist has committed therapy abuse, a Mesa therapy abuse lawyer on our team can help you seek justice.
What Is Transference?
Therapists are held to a strict professional and moral code, much like the standard of care in medicine. However, a key difference between the two is that therapists also have to deal with a phenomenon called transference. Transference happens when a patient redirects their feelings for someone else onto a different person. This is observed in therapy often, sometimes leading patients to have feelings towards their therapists, whether good or bad.
Mental health practitioners are well aware of this phenomenon and should actively monitor it. However, therapists may present signs of countertransference in some cases and direct their own unresolved trauma onto a client. Abuse of transference can lead to physical and psychological harm and must end immediately. A therapist who exploits transference could do so to emotionally, financially, or sexually control a patient.
No matter the type of harm you’ve sustained due to a therapist’s actions, a Mesa therapy abuse lawyer with our firm can help you. Even if you’re not sure that what you experienced constitutes abuse, we can listen to your story and help you understand your legal options.
For a free legal consultation with a therapist abuse lawyer call,
(888) 585-2188
How to Get Compensation for Therapy Abuse
You may experience the repercussions of therapy abuse for months or years after you’ve ended care. The physical and emotional trauma may be difficult to work through. However, your therapist abuse attorney can help you pursue financial compensation for your damages and hold your abuser accountable.
Types of recoverable damages can include:
- Past and future pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Past and future medical expenses
- Long-term care needs resulting from trauma
- Mental anguish
At Jenner Law, we understand that there is no undoing what’s been done. Instead, we are committed to seeking justice for you by demanding compensation.
How One of Our Mesa Therapy Abuse Lawyers Can Help You
At Jenner Law, we understand the complexities of a therapy abuse case. Our award-winning attorneys have years of experience fighting therapy abuse lawsuits, and we know what it takes to see your case through.
Let us help you by:
- Advising on how to pursue your case
- Gathering evidence
- Proving causation between the abuse and your injuries
- Talking to other parties involved in your case
We will negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. If we cannot secure an out-of-court award, we can take your case before a jury.
How Much does It Cost to Hire a Therapy Abuse Lawyer With Jenner Law?
At Jenner Law, we make hiring trusted legal help accessible by offering our services on a contingency-fee basis. This payment agreement means that you will pay no upfront fees or costs for retaining representation unless we win your case. That way, you can pursue justice without worrying about how you will afford it.
We also offer a free consultation so that you can discuss the facts of your case without pressure.
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Who Can We Hold Liable in a Mesa Therapist Abuse Case?
We can hold the therapist and any other party who contributed to or did not stop your abuse liable. These parties could include:
- The therapist’s employer: If the therapist who hurt you was hired without having the proper qualifications, their employer could be to blame.
- One of the therapist’s coworkers: If a coworker, for example, is aware that your therapist is abusing you and they do not prevent it from happening, they could be partially liable.
Our team at Jenner Law understands how difficult it can be to prove therapist abuse. We can gather all the evidence needed to demonstrate fault.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
How to Take Action After Suffering Therapist Abuse
After therapy abuse, you may not know where to begin to move on. We encourage you to protect your mental health and right to compensation by acting quickly and following the steps below:
Hang Onto Any Relevant Evidence
Get a clear sense of the timeline of events. Then, hold onto any related evidence, including any text messages, pictures, or documentation to help back up your case.
Write Down How You Feel
Keeping written proof of your physical, mental, and emotional state can help us prove that you suffered damages because of therapist abuse.
Visit a Doctor if You Are Physically Injured
You should see a doctor if you were injured because of an abusive therapist. Your medical reports can serve as evidence and prove that there is a direct link between the therapist’s abuse and your injuries.
Get Legal Help from a Therapy Abuse Attorney With Jenner Law Today
When a therapist exploits your trust and abuses you, it is your right to hold them accountable. At Jenner Law, we want to help you do that by providing legal representation.
If you’ve been taken advantage of by your therapist, contact us. We can offer legal advice and explain what your next steps may be. Call us today to get started on your case. You can speak to a Jenner Law team member when you reach out for a free consultation.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form