I know we totally love to talk about the great outdoors, enjoying the hunt, and learning the hard way to become independent and find our own way through the woods. These are great times and experiences that are great to share. But what about the other wilderness we almost never speak about: the internal one.
We should be putting mental health first because a clear mind is just as important as a clear shot, and it also helps you make a clear shot when your mind is clear.
We often seek therapy when we are experiencing difficulties in life, trusting that the person will help us find our way.
Yet, what if the person who is meant to help you find your way leads you astray?
This article is all about survivors of therapist misconduct and when therapist-patient boundaries are broken, and there’s a breach of trust that can’t be undone. If you, or someone you know, has experienced this before, it’s only natural that the feeling of having lost your compass was a dominant force looming over you.
Here, we’ll go over how to deal with both the accountability and the recovery part of this horrendous experience.
Trust Your Gut
If the wind changes or something feels ‘strange’ in the brush, we’ll listen.
It’s all part of training. We’re trained to trust our instincts (while in the field). So, too, it is in the therapy room. Professional boundaries are there for a purpose. If the therapist makes sexualized comments, if they touch the other person, if they open up to you about their own intimate problems, the ‘off’ feeling is your internal alarm system.
The first step to reclaiming your power is to understand where they, and not you, crossed the boundary.
The Specialist Advocate
When we’re preparing for an elaborate trek in unknown territory, we don’t just enlist a general guide; we enlist a specialist. When you’re prepping yourself to venture into the unknown – something you haven’t yet dealt with, or something you feel you aren’t qualified to deal with – you get a specialist.
Legal options for survivors of therapist misconduct are no exception.
A lot of people think any personal injury lawyer can handle misconduct cases, but therapist abuse is a more complicated field with implications for medical malpractice and civil rights. Whereas a typical representative might provide you with a general concept of personal injury, a ‘Best Therapist Misconduct Lawyer’ emphasizes trauma-informed care.
You need someone to understand the mental ‘grooming’ that often comes before a cycle of abuse.
Your team needs to acknowledge that these are not accidental incidents but rather well-planned professional breaches of ethics that call for a targeted legal approach.
Documentation is Your Map
Just like we keep a log of our scouts and sightings, it is critical to document your experiences. This doesn’t mean you need to have a ‘perfect’ record, but keeping a journal of dates, specific comments, or unusual requests made by the therapist can be hugely powerful.
In the eyes of the law, these details are the map that points to accountability.
Know the Terrain (Legal vs. Clinical)
One commonly held misconception is that the only way is to report a therapist to a licensing board.
While it can inhibit them from seeing other patients, it often does little to help you recoup the costs of your trauma, such as the cost of new therapy that is legitimate, or the wages lost. Studying civil litigation is not just about money; it is about an obligation to admit responsibility for the harm that you suffered.
No matter if you will be wading through a complicated legal system in a bustling city or a rural town, the standards of care will remain the same.
The patients’ protection laws aim to prevent any hunting ground for predators from taking the ‘safe space’ of a clinical office, after all.
Rebuilding Your Inner Wild
The hardest thing about surviving misconduct is the fear that you will never have confidence in another professional again. It sounds like leaving you a bad experience in the woods with a desire to stay inside for good.
But healing lies in understanding that the actions of one worker don’t shape the whole profession, or your future.
Reclaiming your story means taking the power from the person who abused it. Whether it be through a support group, a new (vetted) therapist, or a therapist sexual abuse lawyer, you are the one who has it back in the driver’s seat.
Conclusion
We believe in the power of women in any hunting situation!
The hunt for truth, the hunt for healing, and protecting yourself from predators. If your own ‘safe space’ has been violated, there are advocates who will help you get the justice you need.
You’re not just a survivor; you’re the one who’s taking the trail back.
