Filing Complaint Against Therapist: Anyone Done It? What To Expect?

[Eti]

I cannot get over my anger at the last therapist I had to dump, and I'm starting to think I might need to file a complaint against her to get some closure.

I have no idea where to start. In my opinion, she violated the professional code of conduct, but I have no idea how I would prove it. How can you prove what was said/done/conveyed in a room where you were the only two people present? How does anyone get their complaint taken seriously when it's your word against the moron's?

Has anyone tried this? What should I expect from it?

 

[Diza]

It will depend a bit on what country you're in, but the professional body or organisation she belongs too should have guidelines on how to make a complaint.

 

[Ajizu]

I cannot get over my anger at the last therapist I had to dump, and I'm starting to think I might need to file a complaint...

Hi, I am a therapist, and I am familiar with our code of ethics. I am a clinical psychologist though; what type of therapist was yours? I truly believe an incompetent therapist can make things A LOT worse. And I think there are many, many incompetent therapists out there. What, exactly, did the therapist do?

 

[Sepur]

I agree, agiju. I feel angry when I think of the first therapist I saw - a counsellor. She was damaging to me, and it does my head in because I was so disempowered back then I didn't even fully realise. She judged me for my sexual abuse )-: and sent a letter to the next counsellor to make sure the next one took the same slant on me. I found that out by accident.
If it was me today, I'd report her.
People who become therapists should have at least a modicum of compassion and a clear idea of confidentiality!!
A cousin of mine too got very mentally harmed by a counsellor
I hope you do report this thrapist - it won't be only you being harmed by them.
Makes me angry still!!!

 

[Eti]

t will depend a bit on what country you're in

US.

what type of therapist was yours?

Psychotherapist -- clinical, I believe. Are there non-clinical psychotherapists?

What, exactly, did the therapist do?

It's pretty hard to spell out in concrete terms. She was judgmental towards me for something any serious therapist would have been compassionate about. She began micro-aggressing against me every session (that's what's going to be hard to prove), she was snide and adversarial in really sneaky ways.

I told her I needed to talk about it, and she just kept shutting me down. And when I asked her if she was avoiding the topic, she denied it over and over -- and then went back to avoiding.

She works at a center that caters to people who are under-insured, and it makes me sad that her seat could be filled by someone more competent who can help these people with so few options.

 

[Ucem]

Psychotherapist -- clinical, I believe. Are there non-clinical psychotherapists?

What were her letters? MSW, LCSW, LCP, etc...

 

[Eti]

What were her letters? MSW, LCSW, LCP, etc...

I see no letters on her card or Psychology Today profile. I do see post grad training on PT profile if that helps you.

 

[Atuva]

Hmmm. She has to be certified in something, I think, in order to have a license to practice. Is she titled as a 'psychologist'? Maybe 'psychotherapist' is a licensed title in the US, but I didn't think it was. I could be wrong.

This is in the state of Alaska specifically, but it's a good run-down on the types of therapists: http://www.strisik.com/therapy/therapists.htm

 

[Eti]

Hmmm. She has to be certified in something, I think, in order to have a license to practice. Is she titled as a 'psychologist'? Maybe 'psychotherapist' is a licensed title in the US, but I didn't think it was. I could be wrong.

I honesty have no idea. Sorry.

 

[Eti]

This is in the state of Alaska specifically, but it's a good run-down on the types of therapists: http://www.strisik.com/therapy/therapists.htm

Thanks for the link. She could be any of these things. I just don't know how I'd find out.

 

[Mole]

I just don't know how I'd find out

She works at a center

Ask for information about her qualifications from the centre she works at maybe?

 

[Fusi]

She was judgmental towards me for something any serious therapist would have been compassionate about. She began micro-aggressing against me every session (that's what's going to be hard to prove), she was snide and adversarial in really sneaky ways.

I dont know if you can do anything about this. I mean, Im not sure the report would go far so Id say high up on the list of what to expect, dont expect.

For closure, Id send a letter to her and another to her board of directors and advise all the horrible things she did. There goes your closure and possible would have done something but I wouldn't go on a ramge to try to "prove" anything because thats an uphill battle that you're likely to loose in my opinion.