You may have a sexual abuse case against your Baltimore therapist if:
- Your therapist displayed any form of sexual behavior towards you.
- You suffered psychological and/or physical harm because of the abuse.
- Your therapist sexual abuse lawyer in Illinois can find evidence to prove the therapist’s liability.
Baltimore Therapists Must Follow a Code of Ethics
Code of Maryland Regulations § 10.58.03.09 states that it is illegal for a therapist to have a sexual relationship with any client at any time. Forbidden actions include but are not limited to:
- Agreeing to see a patient with whom they are currently having or previously had a sexual relationship
- Beginning a relationship after the patient stops coming to see them
- Harassing, manipulating, or exploiting the patient in any way
What Types of Behavior Count as Sexual Abuse?
Sexual abuse may include the use of sexual language in the patient’s presence or any sexual acts or overtures aimed at the patient. Even if the patient responded favorably or did not overtly object to the therapist’s actions at the time, the therapist has behaved inexcusably and should be held accountable.
Any sexual relationship can be considered abuse. A sexual relationship between a therapist and their patient cannot be consensual.
Transference and Therapist Sexual Abuse
Many cases of sexual abuse happen because of the transference phenomenon. Put simply, transference is when a patient develops very close feelings for their therapist, up to and including romantic or sexual feelings.
Transference is a natural outcome of therapy, and a good therapist will be prepared to handle it professionally. If they fail to do so, you may have a sexual abuse case against your Baltimore therapist.
Proving Your Therapist Abuse Really Happened
You know that the abuse happened, and your lawyer will trust your word and take everything you say very seriously. For your case to have a chance of success, however, you need to find evidence that supports your story. A sexual abuse lawyer can help you make the strongest possible case with materials like:
- Statements from people who know you and can attest to the effect the abuse has had on you
- Statements from mental health experts who can review your case and confirm that your therapist’s behavior was wrong and inappropriate
- Any prior complaints made or cases brought against your therapist
- Your medical records, which can show what conditions you were diagnosed with after the abuse and what treatments you needed to cope with them
- Texts or emails that detail your relationship
For a free legal consultation, call,
(888) 585-2188
Effects of Therapist Abuse on Baltimore Patients
Sexual abuse is deeply traumatizing for many survivors. The abuse can have any number of short- and long-term effects on your life. Bringing a case against your exploitative therapist gives you the chance to pursue financial compensation for your suffering.
Short-Term Effects of Therapist Abuse
In the immediate aftermath of the abuse, you might experience:
- Considerable effects on your mental health, such as emotional distress, including feelings of confusion, anger, sadness, shame, or unwarranted guilt
- Physical pain from abuse-related injuries or illness
- Injuries for which you must pay for medical care
- A reduction in income if you end up missing work
Long-Term Effects of Therapist Abuse
Abuse can affect your entire life. You might have trouble maintaining close relationships or holding a job. You might require long-term medical care for your mental and physical injuries. Any progress you made in dealing with your mental health issues might now be gone, requiring you to find a new therapist and start from scratch—if you find that you can trust another therapist.
You deserve compensation for everything you lost because of your abusive therapist. That includes damages for financial losses, physical suffering, and emotional anguish.
How Much Is Your Maryland Therapist Abuse Case Worth?
This is a critical question that an attorney, after careful investigation, can answer for you. They will take into account:
- How long the abuse went on for
- The severity of your injuries and your long-term prognosis
- How much money you spent or lost
- The nature of the abuse itself
Getting Legal Help After Therapist Sexual Abuse in Baltimore
Therapist abuse is not your fault. This is true even if you think you agreed to a relationship. You went to your therapist seeking help, and instead, they chose to exploit your trust and groom you for a sexual relationship. This is unacceptable.
Sexual abuse is a very sensitive subject, so you may not want to talk about it at all. However, the abuse’s effects will not go away on their own, and you deserve help to deal with those effects.
How Lawyers Help Sexual Abuse Survivors in Baltimore
A trauma-informed lawyer can help you with every aspect of your case, from deciding how to take action to determining your case’s worth. We understand how difficult it was for you to come forward, and we will treat your case with the compassion it deserves.
With your attorney’s assistance, you have the ability to:
- Learn about your case’s merits over the phone (and at no charge—we offer free consultations)
- File your case without ever having to meet or talk with your abusive therapist (your legal team will do all of the talking)
- Speak with your therapist sexual abuse attorney about your case and ask questions at virtually any time
- Get professional advice about what you should do and how you should go about handling your case
- Focus more on your own life while your legal team pursues the case on your behalf
- Hold your therapist accountable for their actions and fight for both justice and fair compensation
You Deserve a Good Life After Therapist Sexual Abuse
Coming forward about your abuse is one of the hardest things you will ever do. It may help to remember that you are not alone: you can always lean on loved ones or another more competent, ethical therapist to get you through this. You can also hire a sex abuse attorney who will:
- Treat you with respect, kindness, and dignity
- Fight hard to protect your rights
- Guide you through the legal process and answer all of your questions
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Find Out About Your Baltimore Therapist Sexual Abuse Case Today
Jenner Law provides compassionate service to therapist sexual abuse survivors. Our confidential case reviews are always free of charge, so you can find out if you have a sexual abuse case against your Baltimore therapist without spending anything. When you are ready to talk, we are ready to listen.
Call us today to get started seeking justice.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form