Sidony, thank you for posting this thread. It is an important one. As many of you already know this is a topic that is very personal to me. I think for me the first indication of a problem was not anything blatant it was just a sinking feeling that things didn't seem right. Nothing specific, nothing I could pinpoint and say ah ha this is obviously wrong. Just an uncomfortable, gut feeling. Of course, as time went on it became more specific. A hug that went too long, him talking about personal sexual experiences he had had, flirty behavior, inappropriate jokes, etc. He was testing the waters.

Happy Flower Girl, I cheered when I read your posts. You provided links to two of the best resources I've found on this topic. Kenneth Pope's book: Sexual Involvement With Therapists: Patient Assessment, Subsequent Therapy, Forensics should be required reading of every therapist and psychiatrist so that they will know how to deal with this issue should it arise. AdvocateWeb was an excellent resource, too because it connected me with other people who had been abused by mental health professionals/priests/etc. I needed that connection.

After I broke off the abusive relationship with my psychiatrist I came really, really close to ending my life. It has been devastating. I felt that if a psychiatrist would use and abuse me then who wouldn't. I didn't know where to turn or what to do. All I can say is thank god my therapist did get it. Thank god she believed me, took the duty to report seriously, and turned his butt in. Thank god she understood my attempts to protect him even when he had hurt me so badly.

So, thanks again to all for putting the resources out there. It's important that people know that if this happens to them there is hope and help and that they are not alone.