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

[Zowaco]

Most states have a licensing board you can look up online for licensed professionals from therapists to veterinarians etc. If you google the state licensing board you can look her up by name and file a complaint online and yes these are taken seriously. Even if the complaint goes nowhere it is on file they have a complaint on them. There is always internet sites where you can give a poor review too.

 

[Eti]

If you google the state licensing board you can look her up by name and file a complaint online and yes these are taken seriously.

Thank you, Zowaco. I just can't shake the feeling that I need to take some kind of action. I'm still viscerally upset about it everyday, and I'm getting mad at myself for not doing anything. She's probably screwing other patients while decent therapists could take her job and actually help those people, and I sit here and do nothing?

 

[Ikej]

The reality is that the last couple posts by depov and hinifev are totally accurate.

I work everyday in situations where counselors like the one you mention are involved. I have a couple relatives and acquaintances that are screwed up as hell, that's why they picked psych major in college. Not all are messing with people because of their own problems, but realistically you have to know that there's a good portion that are.

I think the projecting comment depov made is more to point out how your feelings are going to be handled in a complaint.

There is no way your going to get the satisfaction of having your feelings taken seriously in the way that you want. The best bet is to take zowako's advice and complain to the board and not her boss at work, or supervisor.

It does make a difference over time. Somebody who gets enough of those over X amount of years starts to really feel it affect their career. You'd be a part of the solution and not the problem. There's some satisfaction in knowing you did the right thing.

Try to come at it as a civic duty action and not a personal complaint. The next time you notice somebody feels really wrong in therapy, just get out. Its better to have none while you look for one can afford for a while, than one that makes you feel that vulnerable and angry.

 

[Cigoz]

I just can't shake the feeling that I need to take some kind of action. I'm still viscerally upset about it everyday, and I'm getting mad at myself for not doing anything. She's probably screwing other patients while decent therapists could take her job and actually help those people, and I sit here and do nothing?

To me, it sounds like you are dwelling on it (and it may be unconscience or 'not on purpose' type of thing) and im not saying thats fully bad. There's just some things that we have to do for us to advance in our healing. So i say send the letter and dont look bad. Do it, know you did it and move foward rather than to look back to see if she "got in trouble", you know?

If you are looking for her to have a talking to, I honestly dont think that will happen but if still do it for a way of closure. But when you do things for closure for yourself, you move foward from it. Thats what i would do.

I'm losing hope in finding someone who can help me and won't charge $150 per hour out-of-pocket or require a type of insurance I can't get.

There are great therapists but they dont cost much less than that here in the States really. Mine is in a group with my psychiatrist and he is a LMHC (licenced mental health counselor) and self pay would be $125 an hour. But they do take the major insurence companies so not sure about the insurence restrictions but i do agree to the above post where theres a ton of bad "therapists" out there and my first question to the office is about qualifications as they matter a ton, but they will cost a good amount without insurence.

What did you mean by require insurence you cant get?

Anyway, id send it and get that closure and dont look back and start to look for a knew therapist with good qualifications. Oh also, professional websites, read customer/client reviews as that is straight from people that have experience with them. And look for that "click" with them. Someone you can sort of click with whom you know over time you can come to trust as trust is so important with a therapist.

Im sorry, I didnt mean to make this long. Just wantes to help as much

 

[Eti]

What did you mean by require insurence you cant get?

I mean I can't qualify for or pay the premium on because of my income. If you don't make a certain amount of money, you can't qualify for the tax credit, so I would have had to pay close to $300 a month for a decent insurance. Can't do it. So it's off to the public system they send you.

It does make a difference over time. Somebody who gets enough of those over X amount of years starts to really feel it affect their career. You'd be a part of the solution and not the problem. There's some satisfaction in knowing you did the right thing.

Thanks a ton for this post, @Ikej. Before I take this step, though, do you happen to know if she might attempt to retaliate? If so, what means would she have? Also, what about the details of my therapy becoming public record? Would that happen if I were to file a complaint?

 

[Lemasi]

I'm not @ikej but your therapy wouldn't become a matter of public record. If the complaint were to be investigated the board may ask for copies of her records in as much as they relate to the complaint but they would be held confidential in that process. You can request a copy of your notes if you are concerned about what she's recorded. When you think about the possibility of her retaliating what comes to mind?

 

[Eti]

When you think about the possibility of her retaliating what comes to mind?

Finding a way to make the details of my therapy public record, basically.

 

[Ibu]

Finding a way to make the details of my therapy public record, basically.

Thats completely illegal. HIPPA!

 

[Uloka]

I'm ikej but @lemasi is right, it's confidential in the sense that no one who isnt involved would ever have access to it, such as anyone besides this therapist and her employer, and if she's in training it's likely the supervisor would find out.

The details, give or take some minor ones, to that would depend on what exactly her license or license training if she's an intern are in. Psychologists have some different protocols in the State Board than LMFT's for example ( thats family counseling basically, they dont need to be psychologists and have their own board )
and psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers etc.

The first step is identifying what her title and licence or internship is for and then going to that license board in your state.
Once you've established that, you want to put together what would basically look like a chapter outline in a college class.
Start with who you are, what you were seeking treatment for in diagnostic terms, not detail. Example: PTSD and Depression. Then the dates you began and then ended therapy with the person.

You're then going to want to list out in bullet point style descriptions of about two paragraphs each in three categories.

1 ) Briefly describe how the therapist appeared to you in the beginning of therapy.
Briefly describe how you articulated what your emotional state was and what you hoped to address in therapy.
Then describe what she had told or indicated to you that made you believe that she would be helpful or decided to continue with her as a therapist.

2) Describe how you felt your sessions weren't supporting what you intended, and how you communicated that to her. Then describe each incident or comment she made that you believe was misconduct as clearly as possible. Detail each response she gave to you when you tried to address the issue with her directly.

( This is important to get right in how it's presented. Avoid sounding like an unstable teenager that's complaining about a teacher that's not fair. It can be really difficult to accomplish that in this type of formal complaint for everybody. Describe the emotional impact she had on you during your attempts to work with and continue to trust her. Describe her responses in characters description form, as in 'dismissive' 'mocking' etc. and back it up with actual quotes from her during sessions. DO NOT go over board describing demeanor that bothered you, but make sure you include a few solid examples. Like " she rolled her eyes when she answered " etc. but NOT " she looks at me like she is making fun of me". )

3) Open this paragraph with a few sentences about the dynamic of therapist and client being the presumption of trust that the therapist has your best interests in mind once initial therapist / client relationship is established. When you begin to feel something is wrong after that, its normal to assume that your emotional issues may be responsible, if the therapist encourages you to think that instead of trying another approach well after you've been made uncomfortable by what's going on.
Make it clear that you felt that this was a case that she would not acknowledge your complaint professionally, instead blaming you for having the experiences you did with her. ( say experiences, not feelings in the closing).

You are not seeking damages or making a formal complaint with the intention of retaliating over your bad experience. Due to the time, expense, and more importantly the damage done to your ability to be vulnerable with a therapist in the future, you would like it on record that you strongly feel this therapist ( use her name here ) needs a significant amount of further training before working with someone with your back round and diagnosis. ( add your specific diagnosis)

There! thats what happens when I go on this forum while I'm still at work :hilarious:

You dont have to do all of that or even any of it, it's just a standard guideline that will put in a category more likely to get taken seriously.
And NO she cant retaliate. If she or anyone hat works with her, including her boss, ever tells anyone about your complaint and you find out, its your lucky day because you have an easy lawsuit if you claim it distressed you. :tup:

 

[Eti]

Thanks @Uloka.

The details, give or take some minor ones, to that would depend on what exactly her license or license training if she's an intern are in. Psychologists have some different protocols in the State Board than LMFT's for example ( thats family counseling basically, they dont need to be psychologists and have their own board )
and psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers etc.

By public record, I mean the courts, basically. I think those records are open to the public, aren't they?

Also, I searched my state licensing site and found that she is licensed in social work. They have a form to fill out there on the site if you want to file a complaint.

 

[Isovu]

this is uloka

Take the form and fill it out, but add some kind of typed version like the example I gave and attach it.
Social Worker explains some of her lack of finesse and caution but it doesn't change the fact its okay she handled you in a way that you felt was unprofessional.
I like social workers for counseling usually, but they often arent as motivated to keep their personal opinions and personalities out of things.That doesn't mean they arent supposed to, they have the same rules the rest do. I've just noticed they can be lax about that myself.

No it wont be a public record in court, keep in mind she wouldn't want it to be public either. I also don't see why it would be in court if you're not suing for reimbursements. I have to be honest, if that's what you want to do I doubt it would work.

The forms in the county to complain about your Social Worker are usually for when you have been assigned one. If this is a situation where you sought out a county therapist because you can't afford private therapy, and paid her a fee on a sliding scale, then I'd go over her supervisors head.
If she's a Psychiatric Social Worker l, then she does have a psychology degree, if she's Psychiatric Social Worker ll, then she not only has one but is probably getting a Masters in Counseling or Psych and Med Social Work. She has zero excuse if thats the case, and your complaint might actually make a difference to people she assists in the future.

 

[Ijop]

Based on your posts you come across as quite unaware of the basics.

Insurance can usually be changed once a year during an open enrollment period. It's not about asking your insurance company for special favors. Please dig out all those enrollment docs you received but never read. They will spell all of this out for you.

It's probably best for you to make the complaint and move on as you have practically zero proof of anything that borders on malpractice or being unethical.

Fixating on justice and revenge won't do much for your healing. You're hyper focusing on this old therapist instead of focusing on your own healing. Can I ask why? Why are you putting this woman ahead of your own healing.

You're not going to get any money unles you sue, and if you sue it's going to take years of your life away from you.

At worst she'll get a note in her file.

It's best to move on and focus on your own healing. I think this therapist has left a bitter taste in your mouth, and now, months later you are like a dog with a bone who just can't let go.

I also think it would be a good idea to understand that just because a therapist doesn't want to listen to everything you want to talk about doesn't mean that she's done something wrong. Everyone has their limits.

I realize that you're quite young and much of these things you learn with age and experience.