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Psychiatric Malpractice Warning Signs
In most sexual abuse or exploitation cases, other inappropriate behavior comes first. While it may be subtle or confusing, it usually feels uncomfortable to the patient.
Some clues or warning signs are:
- Telling sexual jokes or stories.
- "Making eyes at" or giving seductive looks to the patient.
- Discussing the therapist’s sex life or relationships excessively.
- Sitting too close, initiating hugging, holding the patient or lying next to the patient.
Another warning sign is “special” treatment by a therapist, such as:
- Inviting a patient to lunch, dinner or other social activities.
- Dating
- Changing any of the office’s business practices (for example, scheduling late appointments so no one is around, having sessions away from the office, etc.)
- Confiding in a patient (for example, about the therapist’s love life, work problems, etc.)
- Telling a patient that he or she is special, or that the therapist loves him or her.
- Relying on a patient for personal and emotional support.
- Giving or receiving significant gifts.
- Providing or using alcohol (or drugs) during sessions.
Signs of inappropriate behavior and misuse of power include:
- Hiring a patient to do work for the therapist, or bartering goods or services to pay for therapy.
- Suggesting or supporting the patient’s isolation from social support systems, increasing dependency on the therapist.
Source*California Department of Consumer Affairs, Communications and Education Division. "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex," http://www.dca.ca.gov./
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