From the category archives:

Laws, Ethics & Legal Issues

NBC New York I-Team: Lawmaker Wants Therapist Sex Abuse Loophole Closed

May 19, 2012

For those of you living in New York, you may want to check out this article and add your voice to this process: A state assemblyman is drafting legislation that would close a legal loophole, first reported by the I-Team, that keeps statutory rape complaints about psychotherapists from being forwarded to law enforcement by the [...]

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Petition to “Stop Therapist Abuse Now” on Change.org

April 19, 2012

Today on Change.org I discovered a petition to introduce a bill in Maryland called “Lynette’s Law.” The woman who drafted the petition, Heather Sinclair, alleges that she was a victim of therapist abuse by a man who was a convicted felon. Sinclair hopes to pass a law in Maryland that would require all therapists to [...]

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Taking Action Against the Abuser – Emotions and Inner Conflict

March 9, 2011

When I talk to female survivors of therapist abuse who are considering filing a civil lawsuit or licensing complaint (or who are in the early stages of such actions), I often hear them express the same kinds of emotions and inner conflicts that I experienced. They usually start off by saying, “I know this sounds [...]

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Discussion: How Can We Address the Problem of Professional Abuse & Misconduct?

July 26, 2010

If you would like to share your ideas about what can be done to address the problem of professional abuse, exploitation, and sexual misconduct, please join the discussion by posting your comments and concerns below. Print PDF

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How to Initiate Legislation Criminalizing Therapist Abuse

December 20, 2009

I had a comment today from a reader asking if I had any suggestions or references for how to initiate legislation to make sexual exploitation and abuse by a therapist a criminal act. (While in some states it is illegal, that is not the case for every state in the U.S.) It’s an excellent question, [...]

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7 Tips for Therapist Abuse Victims Considering Legal Action

October 1, 2009

I want to offer some tips and suggestions for any victims of therapist abuse and exploitation who may be considering taking legal action. While I would encourage anyone who has been victimized by a therapist (or other professional) to consider taking legal action, I want to be clear that it is not an easy thing [...]

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Want to date your doctor? Hey, no problem!

September 30, 2009

This morning I got an email from a friend of mine who reads The Atlantic. In this month’s “What’s Your Problem?” section, an advice column by Jeffrey Goldberg, the following question and answer appear: I recently met a woman I’d like to ask out. Here’s the complication: she’s one of my new doctors, and I [...]

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