This is just an idle musing really.

My phone company made a booboo with my new contract, which has ended up costing me hundreds of pounds. Under the law here in the UK, there are quite strict regulations around trading and mis-selling services. I will probably get all the money back with relative ease - if I don't, I will be taking it to the ombudsman, and almost certainly will get the money back then.

It got me thinking about the money I have spent on therapy, thousands of pounds, and about the clear 'mis-selling' of services in my situation there too. The trade descriptions act is very hot on this sort of thing with almost any other service or product. When things go really wrong in therapy, the focus seems to be on reporting to the professional body, rather than going via a trade route for buying a service sold under false pretences. Why is that?

Looking at it under the light of trade rather than a personal relationship, I suddenly feel very uncomfortable and hoodwinked about the money I spent. I know I got a lot of free sessions too, but when I think about all the money I chucked at her when I was really desperate... It's a bit like she exploited that desperation. It all feels very unethical and on a par with payday loans, or with a dealer getting somebody hooked on drugs so they keep crawling back, desperate for a fix, running up a tab.

Hmm. Well, I suppose the car she covets does cost a hundred and fifty thousand pounds, so she has to get the money together somehow.

What is it like in the United States? What form does legal action against therapists take? Is it separate to reporting to the regulatory body?