Would You Ever Lodge A Complaint About A Past Therapist?

[Justmehere]

I have filed a complaint against a mental health care professional. The first time, it was for a therapist who crossed legal boundaries and broke my privacy and gave information to my family without authorization. They were sanctioned - in this case, it meant they got an official warning letter. It didn't really help me much and I'm not sure it changed much for them. I don't know if it was worth it.

The second time I filed a complaint, it was when I was in an intensive treatment program. One treatment provider did something that pushed me too far too fast. I asked for the patient rep. I filled out the form to file an official complaint, and then ended up tearing up the form and sitting down and talking to the supervisor. It was really helpful. They understood my needs for treatment moving forward better, and I had a whole new understanding of why they did what they did.

If you were planning on still seeing this therapist, or going back to the clinic, it would probably be well worth your time to meet with them and talk through your concerns. If you are not planning on going back, writing a letter might be a better option.

Before you get too far in the process of considering if you will file a complaint, it would probably be worth your time to investigate what options you have to start off with. You could write a letter to him, and I think this might be your best option. However, it sounds like you are looking for something more, perhaps a meeting with him and/or his supervisor? I suggest calling the clinic and asking if this is an option or not. If you are looking for him to be sanctioned, then you could call the licensing board. I think that they will likely tell you that this was a mistake, but probably not a sanctionable event. But maybe it is, and you could go through that process.

Whatever option you choose, I am glad you have a good therapist now and that you keep them in the loop on how you are doing with all of this so they can help you work through this.

 

[Cool Cat]

@Cool Cat, what are you hoping to get out of speaking up about this?

I think it would give me a bit of peace of mind, a bit of closure, and help me stop bearing such a big grudge and having so much bitterness about my bad therapist. As well as that, the therapy ended so abruptly after several months and there was never a closure or a goodbye. I was all up for meeting up for a final session but I wasn't up for paying for it.

 

[Jane.l]

Have you spoken to your current T about this, it might be worth getting his input ?

 

[Justmehere]

If he terminated with no refferal and no emergency care, there *may* be an issue of patient abandonment - and something that would get the attention of the supervisor or licensing board. If he did offer a final session and etc, and you didn't want to pay for it, then it's not so much patient abandonment. It does sound like you had a crappy experience and I hope you find the closure you are looking for. Abrupt therapy endings can really stir up a lot for some trauma survivors - I have been through one, and it was quite painful. After working through it with my new therapist, I'm actually glad that therapist ended - because I found something better. I still do wish there had been more of a transition of care.

 

[Cool Cat]

Hi @Jane.l yeah I have told my current T about this but I've never dwelled on it too much because I don't like saying "my last T" too often as I don't want to sound like...I dunno...I suppose it's an unfounded fear since therapists are non-judgemental but I don't want to sound like I have this big long string of therapists. Because I havent. But from what I have said, my current T has said that what the old guy was doing was bad and even that it;s a very good thing I stopped seeing him.

He just was stupid and taking on a patient he wasn't qualified for. As a c-trauma person, unlike perhaps a lot of people who attend therapy, I need more than just a listening ear. He should have treated the area of my trauma with more care, sense and professionalism.

Agree @Justmehere, it is actually very difficult when therapy ends abruptly - I almost felt I was running away!

 

[sun seeker]

I don't like saying "my last T" too often as I don't want to sound like...I dunno...I suppose it's an unfounded fear since therapists are non-judgemental but I don't want to sound like I have this big long string of therapists.

Could you say "my other therapist" instead of "my last therapist"? Slight change of wording but without the connotation you're worrying about. Unless there have been more than those two, in which case maybe you could just call the other one by name. Just a suggestion.