Therapists help people through the struggles of life, mental illness, and trauma. They play a crucial role in assisting people mentally and emotionally.
But the therapist-client relationship can turn ugly, and sometimes therapists use their position of power to abuse their clients. Therapy abuse is serious, and so are the legal ramifications. A Phoenix therapy abuse lawyer from Jenner Law can help you with your case.
Boundaries in the Therapist-Client Relationship
Therapists offer counsel and advice to help a variety of clients. They can help people manage mental illnesses and work towards a state of emotional and mental well-being. For example, they can help people work through trauma and relationship problems.
According to the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, all medical professionals, including therapists, must respect certain boundaries in their relationships with their clients. They must be professional and maintain patient confidentiality. A good therapist will hold the following limits:
- Keep your information confidential. What you say in therapy is private. Your therapist should not share your personal information unless necessary for your safety or legal reasons. For example, if you are planning to commit suicide, your therapist should report it to get you the help you need.
- Conduct therapy sessions on time. You should have set appointments with your therapist with clear start and end times.
- Maintain appropriate physical distance and use only appropriate touch: Physical touch is an essential component of human interaction, but it should be reasonable within a therapist-client relationship. Appropriate touch may include things like handshakes and brief hugs.
- Keep the relationship professional. Sessions should focus on you and helping you through your struggles; therapists should not share information about their personal lives. Therapists also shouldn’t contact you outside of the professional setting. Any romantic or sexual relationship between a client and a therapist is inappropriate.
When therapists break boundaries, it can harm clients and go even further in abusive behavior. If you ever experience something inappropriate in your sessions with a therapist, make sure to talk with someone and get help. And understand that you have legal options available to you in many circumstances.
For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury lawyer call,
(888) 585-2188
Components of a Therapy Abuse Lawsuit
In therapy, a client is vulnerable. Abuse can happen if the therapist takes advantage of the client. For example, clients often share personal information with therapists and spend time in one-on-one sessions.
Not all crossing of appropriate boundaries is abusive. Still, the following types of abuse are possible in the therapist-client relationship:
- Physical abuse: This can include any type of physical activity that causes pain or harm.
- Sexual abuse: This can include any inappropriate touching or sexual acts.
- Mental and emotional abuse: This can include actions that cause mental or emotional pain. When a therapist is controlling or verbally abusive, it can cause their clients extreme harm.
Even if what happened to you wasn’t abuse, it can still constitute negligence on the therapist’s part. When a therapist fails to do something, and you experience harm, it can be a form of malpractice.
Legal Action After Therapy Abuse
Abuse is a serious issue, and there are a few different legal options after you have experienced abuse in a therapist-client relationship. Sometimes, you may be able to take action in the civil courts to recover compensation for damages.
Other times, your case may open up criminal investigations. It is critical to go through the proper legal channels so that a therapist doesn’t hurt anyone else. Often, the burden of proof will be higher in a criminal case than in a civil lawsuit.
A therapist may face jail time or other legal consequences in a criminal case. On the other hand, a civil lawsuit would allow you to get compensation for your suffering.
Consulting an attorney can help you understand your legal options after experiencing therapy abuse.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
How Can a Therapy Abuse Lawyer Help You?
Any abusive situation is complex and challenging. The therapy abuse lawyers at Jenner Law have experience in cases like these. We understand the specific laws that apply to your case and the precise boundaries of the therapist-client relationship.
A therapy abuse lawyer can help you in the following areas:
- Review the specifics of your case to determine what happened
- Go over your legal options based on the nature of your case
- Help you pursue legal action and represent you in any proceedings
- Help you gather evidence to support the claims of your case
- Answer questions you have throughout the legal process
- Communicate between any involved parties in any legal proceedings
Costs of Hiring a Lawyer
At Jenner Law, we operate on contingency fees, so we don’t receive payment unless we help you get compensation. We can help you explore your options and give you legal counsel.
You don’t have to be worried about the financial strain upfront. You can explore your legal options and determine your next steps. We’ll help you.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Jenner Law Testimonials
We have helped others with their therapy abuse cases. We are honored to serve our clients in the Phoenix area. Here’s what just a few of our clients have had to say:
“Rob Jenner and his firm are the model for caring, compassionate, and effective lawyers… Rob is a listener. Especially for clients, Rob will make sure he hears you, understands you, and that your voice will be heard. I have worked with him on many cases over the years, and I wholeheartedly recommend him.” – John.
“He [is] easy to work with, not just a lawyer. More concerned about you than a dollar sign. Polite and courteous, extremely knowledgeable about laws and our rights as consumers.” – Ciana
Schedule a Consultation with Us Today
You don’t have to go through this process alone. We are here to help you. We take the legal aspects of therapist abuse seriously. Our team is ready to answer your questions and help you take legal action.
Call us today at (888) 585-2188 for a consultation.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form