Louisiana Therapist Abuse Lawyer

Louisiana Therapist Abuse Attorney

When you choose to go to therapy, it is often an immense step that takes a lot of courage. You put a lot of trust in your therapist to help you heal from past trauma and grow as a person. When a therapist takes advantage of this vulnerability and fails to uphold ethical boundaries, they can be held accountable for this negligence and malpractice. A Louisiana therapist abuse lawyer can help patients navigate civil claims to financially recover from the harm done to them.

Therapists can intentionally or unintentionally breach ethical boundaries. Depending on the circumstances, these breaches can still be considered malpractice. A patient may engage in transference to a therapist, or a therapist may engage in countertransference. If the therapist lets this interfere with the patient’s therapy, this may be considered negligence. A transference & countertransference attorney can help patients determine the next steps.

Sanchez Burke, LLC: Advocating for Patients Dealing With Therapist Abuse

If you have been a victim of therapist abuse or negligence, including countertransference, confidentiality breaches, emotional manipulation, or sexual misconduct, you may have options to hold your therapist accountable. At Sanchez Burke, LLC, we can review your situation and help you determine what you can do, including filing a complaint, filing a civil claim, or even determining whether you have grounds for criminal charges.

In 2019, the National Health Interview Survey reported that 19.2% of adults in the U.S. had received some type of treatment for their mental health. This treatment should be beneficial, so it can be devastating when a therapist takes advantage of you while you are in a vulnerable state. If you have the grounds for a civil claim, you could recover the cost of your financial and emotional losses.

Our firm has more than 60 years of combined experience. We want to help support you and hold negligent therapists accountable for breaches of ethics. Therapist abuse can have devastating effects on you, and our team can determine how you may be able to recover.

What Are Common Forms of Therapist Abuse?

Between 2020 and 2024, there were 236 adverse action reports against therapists and counselors in Louisiana and 16 medical malpractice payment reports. The majority of these adverse action reports were related to state licensure and certification. There were also 153 adverse action reports against social workers and 19 against psychologists.

While the majority of therapists are aware of their responsibility to their patients and uphold it diligently, some do not. There are many ways that therapists can cause harm to their patients, from active abuse to professional negligence. Some of the most common forms of therapist abuse include:

• Transference and countertransference. Transference occurs when a patient redirects feelings about someone or something else in their life onto their therapist. Countertransference occurs when a therapist redirects their personal feelings to the client, often in response to transference. The emotions in both types of redirection may be positive or negative. These actions are not automatically an issue, and when they are recognized by therapists, they can even be useful. However, they can also lead to issues, and a therapist who fails to assess and respond to these actions properly can cause harm to patients.

• Emotional manipulation. This may take the form of a therapist being judgmental, dismissive, acting in disregard for the patient’s boundaries, or minimizing the problems the patient is dealing with. This can cause severe emotional and psychological harm.
• Confidentiality breaches. Therapists must maintain client confidentiality, and there are very specific situations where a breach of confidentiality is legal. If a therapist breaches confidentiality without a reasonable excuse, they can be held accountable. This action breaks the trust that a patient gives to their therapist. Patients can file a complaint and potentially a civil claim.
• Sexual misconduct. A therapist may engage in this conduct through inappropriate touching, flirting, meetings outside of therapy, sharing or encouraging the sharing of sexual details, or sexual intercourse. This is unethical and can also be illegal. Sexual misconduct can even include criminal offenses like sexual assault. There are options for victims of this misconduct or crime.

FAQs

Q: What Compensation Can I Recover in a Claim for Therapist Malpractice and Abuse?

A: If you have the grounds for a therapist malpractice civil claim, you could recover damages that you suffered:

• Medical costs, such as addressing any physical or psychological injuries, and the cost of finding a new therapist
• Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma damages
• Lost income or lost earning capacity if your work was impacted by the abuse

Determining the damages in these cases can be more complex. An attorney can help.

Q: How Can an Attorney Help With Therapist Abuse?

A: An attorney can help with therapist abuse by helping an abused patient consider their options, including filing a civil claim against their therapist. An attorney can:

• Determine the grounds for a therapist malpractice case
• Ensure you meet all legal deadlines
• Negotiate a settlement
• Represent you in court
• Protect your interests
• Give you tailored legal advice
• Ensure you understand the laws that apply to your case
• Assess the damages you could recover

Q: What Can You Do If You Are a Victim of Therapy Abuse?

A: If you are a victim of therapy abuse, you can take action by reporting the ethical violation and filing a complaint with the state’s licensing board. The board will investigate the claims and can take action against the therapist, including revoking their license. If you have been the victim of a crime committed by your therapist, you can file a police report. No matter which action you take, you can also file a civil claim to recover financial damages.

Q: What Is the Cost of a Therapy Abuse Attorney?

A: Attorney’s fees for a civil claim based on therapist malpractice and abuse are typically a contingency fee. A contingency fee is a percentage of the final settlement. When the claim is successful, and you receive a settlement in negotiations or a trial verdict, a portion of that goes to your attorney. The exact percentage may vary, depending on the attorney’s experience, the complexity of your unique case, and whether the case goes to trial.

Work With an Experienced Therapist Abuse Lawyer Today

Negligence, misconduct, and abuse by a therapist can have a significant impact on your mental, emotional, and even physical health. Contact Sanchez Burke, LLC today to learn what actions you can take.