From inappropriate behaviour to encouraging patients to stop medication, reckless therapists can cause real damage
hen Karin Blak’s troubled marriage ended, she was recommended a therapist by a friend. But she grew increasingly uncomfortable as he made inappropriate personal disclosures, including around his sexual health, touched her and invited her into his home.
“At the time I didn’t know. I think that’s an issue for a lot of people, they don’t really know what they’re looking for, and they don’t know when boundaries are being overstepped. That’s exactly the situation I was in. I wasn’t aware a therapist shouldn’t be giving you hugs and holding your hand and inviting you home.”
Among them was Elinor*, whose adult son has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He tried to obtain psychotherapy on the NHS but was declined as local services said his needs were too complex. Sophie* quickly became uncomfortable with the approach of her therapist, who overshared about her personal life. “I thought: ‘You shouldn’t be doing that,’” she said.
She terminated the therapy after the minimum number of sessions, and is now considering complaining to the BACP.
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