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I haven’t shared much of this story publicly before, but now that I almost have a BA in Psychology and have years of good therapy under my belt, I think it’s important to share. Thread. (1/8)
When I was 16, I started seeing a Christian counselor that came highly recommended by my church for healing from sexual violence. She practiced incredibly unethically and hurt me far more than she helped. (2/8)
Here’s a list of unethical ways in which she practiced:
1. Talked more about her own abuse than she listened to me.
2. Forced me to do equine-assisted therapy even though I’m allergic to horses.
3. Told me that self-harm caused demons to enter my body.
(3/8)
1. Talked more about her own abuse than she listened to me.
2. Forced me to do equine-assisted therapy even though I’m allergic to horses.
3. Told me that self-harm caused demons to enter my body.
(3/8)
4. Brought her husband to one of my sessions.
5. Performed an “exorcism” by pouring sand on me.
6. Forced me to re-enact my abuse on my own body.
7. Broke confidentiality at a public event by telling 200+ people she was my therapist.
(4/8)
5. Performed an “exorcism” by pouring sand on me.
6. Forced me to re-enact my abuse on my own body.
7. Broke confidentiality at a public event by telling 200+ people she was my therapist.
(4/8)
8. Told me she wanted to become friends with my mom.
9. Told me that healing wasn’t possible and my trauma would forever define me.
10. Asked me if I could become friends with her daughters.
11. Told me that I experienced abuse I hadn’t.
12. Told me that she hated my dad.
(5/8)
9. Told me that healing wasn’t possible and my trauma would forever define me.
10. Asked me if I could become friends with her daughters.
11. Told me that I experienced abuse I hadn’t.
12. Told me that she hated my dad.
(5/8)
I believe in therapy. I believe in the therapeutic process. I’ve been with my current therapist for 3 years now and she is the exact opposite of the above “therapist” in every way possible. However, it’s also important for people to know that bad therapists exist too. (6/8)
If you ever find yourself in a situation in which a therapist consistently makes you feel invalidated and you leave every session feeling worse about yourself, find a new therapist. You deserve to be validated. (7/8)
If your therapist breaks confidentiality, find a new therapist.
If your therapist discloses so much personal information that you become uncomfortable, find a new therapist.
If your therapist forces you to do a treatment plan you don’t want to do, find a new therapist. (8/8)
If your therapist discloses so much personal information that you become uncomfortable, find a new therapist.
If your therapist forces you to do a treatment plan you don’t want to do, find a new therapist. (8/8)
(For those in the mental health field wondering about this, yes, she was reported to the Ohio CSWMFT Board. They “strongly cautioned” her about confidentiality but took no further action. We still run in some of the same circles, so I’m not naming her for my own sake, not hers.)
