Mental health professionals such as psychotherapists treat clients governed by a strict code of regulations. They are sworn to dedication to ethical and professional excellence as well as commitment to service, public participation and advocacy. Despite all these checks and balances, patients still report unethical treatment by psyhotherapist.
As a client, it is of utmost importance to fully grasp the importance of law and ethics to a mental health profession. Ethics and law is what the profession is founded on. Ethics is to therapy what gods are to religion. One cannot exist without the other. This is what makes breach of ethics a crime so despicable. Indeed, the crime is punishable by the licensing board, the professional body or the legal framework.
So what exactly is unethical treatment? It may involve confidentiality breach, where the psychotherapist reveals information concerning your sessions without your consent. Also, any romantic or sexual gestures from the therapist are a no-no. Encounters outside the practice are also prohibited. Friendships and any other type of relationship likely to affect the psychotherapist performance or harm the client are also considered unethical.
It is not acceptable, ethically, for mental health professional to bill their clients wrongly. Since the commencement of the therapy sessions, he or she should explain to the client their financial and billing policies and stick to it. For instance, they should not bill a client for a service that is already covered. Besides, they should not exaggerate or write less damaging diagnosis for whatever reason.
It is important to confirm and be completely sure that your therapist has indeed breached your right to ethical therapy before making any move. This is because it could completely end their career; you want to make the move when you are absolutely sure of what you are doing. Consult with some friends, another therapist or even a lawyer.
So whats next? After establishing your right to ethical therapy has been breached there are several options available. For instance, you may decide to confront them. Discussing with the therapist about their questionable behavior may be awkward for some. So, you may decide to file a complaint with their licensing or professional bodies for investigations. Alternatively, you may file a lawsuit if your lawyer recommends so or terminate your treatment with the particular doctor.
Just to be clear, if you are in a crisis or your life is under threat, law enforcement officers should be involved right away. Termination is also an option as mentioned above. However, do not hide by abandoning the program or ignoring their phone calls. If you wish to terminate, confront them and say you would like to withdraw from therapy as your rights were violated.
It is difficult enough having to live with emotional wound and pain. Talking to a total stranger is also not easy; it takes courage and an enormous call for trust and that why this privacy should be protected at all cost. This is why anyone who takes advantage of their clients should not be allowed to practice. By reporting, we get rid of them one by one.
As a client, it is of utmost importance to fully grasp the importance of law and ethics to a mental health profession. Ethics and law is what the profession is founded on. Ethics is to therapy what gods are to religion. One cannot exist without the other. This is what makes breach of ethics a crime so despicable. Indeed, the crime is punishable by the licensing board, the professional body or the legal framework.
So what exactly is unethical treatment? It may involve confidentiality breach, where the psychotherapist reveals information concerning your sessions without your consent. Also, any romantic or sexual gestures from the therapist are a no-no. Encounters outside the practice are also prohibited. Friendships and any other type of relationship likely to affect the psychotherapist performance or harm the client are also considered unethical.
It is not acceptable, ethically, for mental health professional to bill their clients wrongly. Since the commencement of the therapy sessions, he or she should explain to the client their financial and billing policies and stick to it. For instance, they should not bill a client for a service that is already covered. Besides, they should not exaggerate or write less damaging diagnosis for whatever reason.
It is important to confirm and be completely sure that your therapist has indeed breached your right to ethical therapy before making any move. This is because it could completely end their career; you want to make the move when you are absolutely sure of what you are doing. Consult with some friends, another therapist or even a lawyer.
So whats next? After establishing your right to ethical therapy has been breached there are several options available. For instance, you may decide to confront them. Discussing with the therapist about their questionable behavior may be awkward for some. So, you may decide to file a complaint with their licensing or professional bodies for investigations. Alternatively, you may file a lawsuit if your lawyer recommends so or terminate your treatment with the particular doctor.
Just to be clear, if you are in a crisis or your life is under threat, law enforcement officers should be involved right away. Termination is also an option as mentioned above. However, do not hide by abandoning the program or ignoring their phone calls. If you wish to terminate, confront them and say you would like to withdraw from therapy as your rights were violated.
It is difficult enough having to live with emotional wound and pain. Talking to a total stranger is also not easy; it takes courage and an enormous call for trust and that why this privacy should be protected at all cost. This is why anyone who takes advantage of their clients should not be allowed to practice. By reporting, we get rid of them one by one.
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