Many people seek therapy for a safe space to talk about their most inner feelings. Because of this, therapists can hold a strong influence over their patients. A simple error in judgement could make the therapist liable for malpractice. Therapists who abuse their patients should be held accountable for the long-term negative effects this could cause.
The lawyer’s area of expertise and prior experience are important in these types of cases, due to their sensitive nature. An experienced attorney would approach a therapy abuse case lawsuit with more care than someone with a smaller amount of experience. At our firm, we fight for the rights of therapy abuse victims.
Experience matters in a therapist abuse case
If you have been abused by your therapist, you have suffered some form of trauma. At Jenner Law, we are trauma informed and use this experience to establish a relationship that feels comfortable to our clients. We are not mental health professionals, but by having a working understanding of trauma, we know the effects it can have on our clients.
We will support you through this hard time while you focus on recovering from what happened to you. Your therapist should be held accountable for abusing their power and causing you harm.
For a free legal consultation, call,
(888) 585-2188
How do I Know If I Have a Case Against My Therapist?
To be eligible to make a case, it must be determined if the abuse occurred within the past three years or within one year of discovering the abuse or injury according to the Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.5. The American Psychological Association created ethical principles and a code of conduct that anyone practicing psychotherapy should abide by. You can report anything they do that violates this code. Many people don’t know the intricacies of licensure law, but there can be strong signs that your therapist is abusing their power. Some of these include:
- The therapist provided services that weren’t therapy or were considered experimental or dangerous.
- The therapist said things in a discriminatory manner.
- The therapist tried performing a service they weren’t qualified to provide.
- The therapist made sexual advances toward you or had any type of sexual contact with you.
Before you file a complaint, it is important to make sure they have crossed the line of ethics. Sometimes therapy doesn’t always feel good. Your therapist could be asking you questions that make you feel uncomfortable due to the issues you are dealing with. It is important to separate your own feelings when making the determination if your therapist is abusing their power.
Psychotherapy Boundaries You Should Be Aware of
In any psychotherapy situation, there are boundaries you should be aware of. The therapist has a responsibility for their patient’s psychological well-being. They are being trusted with some of the patient’s most inner thoughts, which can leave the patient in a vulnerable position. In order to avoid an abuse of power, psychotherapy boundaries have been created. They include:
- Sitting at a reasonable distance from the patient.
- No physical contact besides a handshake or nonsexual hug.
- The session should not go over the set period of time.
- The focus remains on the patient and their problems.
- A personal relationship should not be made other than psychotherapy.
The therapist may have breached their boundaries if these general parameters have been violated. Having an attorney on your side throughout this type of ordeal can be helpful. We have a high level of understanding of therapy licensure laws and can help you report if your therapists has broken them.
Recoverable Damages in a Therapist Abuse Case
The amount of money that can be recovered in these types of cases varies on the circumstances. Our attorneys can help you calculate the amount of damages you could be awarded in a therapy abuse case. Some of these damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages
You can recover past, present, and future losses for each type of damage. Therapy abuse can cause a lifetime of emotional distress and a victim should be compensated for that.
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Why Our Law Firm Is the Right Choice for Your Therapist Abuse Case
The team at our firm will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
- We charge on a contingency fee basis. We do not charge unless we are successful with your case. If we are successful, you will only be responsible for the case costs from your portion of the recovery.
- Our first priority is communication. We will provide you with regular status updates on your case and are available to answer questions by phone, email, and text. It is important for us to have a personal relationship with our clients.
- We offer consultations at no-cost so there is no risk to getting information on if you have a case or not.
- We offer representation nationwide.
- We have proven methods of success and provide our clients with the best possible experiences working with our law firm.
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Call Us Today and Hold Your Therapist Accountable
We believe your therapist should be held accountable for abusing their power. Call (888) 585-2188 or fill out a contact form to schedule a free consultation. We will review your case and answer any questions you may have.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form