I Have a Question

     Do you believe abuse within mental health therapy really does happens?
     
 Abuse is Therapy, a Painful Secret   
​     Once, a friend of mine, who had been abused in therapy, was sitting in a group of volunteers. They were discussing the assets available to them to support at-risk children. The director of the group said they should remember that there were many therapists available to call upon in times of crisis. She went on to say that the help of a therapist was a wonderful thing, and how therapist always had good motives and were valuable authorities.
    
The Courage to Speak
​     My friend, hearing these words, became internally upset and despite great trepidation, raised her hand to speak. She told the group leader that while she agreed the help of a mental health therapist could indeed be a very good thing, it was important to realize that not all therapists were competent or well-motivated.    

​     The director was stunned by her words, but asked her what she meant. My friend, in a soft and uncertain voice, told the group a little of her experience of being emotionally abused by a misdirected therapist.
    
Speaking Enables Others to Tell their Story
​     The group grew quiet, and then one by one, many of them told their own stories of mistreatment by a mental health therapist. As my friend described it to me, it was as if they had all been holding these stories as secrets, fearing no one would hear or believe them.
     Some of the incidents relayed, wherein minor boundary violations had caused such personal pain for the victim, were told with embarrassment and guilt. They had felt silly and too sensitive in experiencing the emotional turmoil they did over what had happened. Other stories were shocking in their details, leaving the victim internally scarred.

Fear Silences
​     As the group talked, they all realized how fearful most of us are to speak out when something happens that causes confusion and hurt at the hands of a professional mental health care provider. 

Abusive therapists are not the norm!
​     There are many wonderful, ethical therapist who give life-changing support to their patients,. However, when a mental health professional crosses the boundaries that keep therapy safe for the patient, it can be devastating. I think of it as being on a wild roller coaster and noticing a loose bolt! Sure, it may be just one little loose bolt, but you have put your very life on the line, and you need EVERY bolt to be tight and secure! Even if the ride ends without disaster, your personal experience was most likely intense insecurity and fear, and an overwhelming feeling of desperation.

​Importance of Ethical Boundaries 
     Within therapy, we put our emotional selves on the line and trust that the therapist will always keep us completely safe. Ethical boundaries are not the window dressing of good therapy, they are the much-needed nuts and bolts!
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