[homealone]

I am a male survivor of sexual assault from a social worker when I was 17. I am 55 today and have never been able to successfully have a therapist, counselor, or psychologist. I am increasingly uneasy about open sexuality in society and violence.
I know many people benefit from psychiatric and psychological intervention, but I also see many who like me, are permanently damaged from practitioners who abusively use them. With the internet, I am able to see the enormity of this problem as more victims of sexual assault by a psycho therapist become vocal.
On the other hand, I also know there are several people who are safely treated within the mental health system as well, and can receive benefit without harm.
I feel at this point if other real life people who receive therapy and mental health services could please write and help me understand how therapy or mental health services can be kept safe, and what they do to remain safe, perhaps I might be able to successfully locate a provider somewhere to treat me.
I also have 3 present outstanding but unrelated medical issues, and I am able to abate fears and effectively receive current medical treatment for them, but simply can not seem to successfully overcome the barriers on my part to successfully receive mental health treatment or psychological counseling.
Thank you anyone who might be able to relate and help; Homealone

[ECHOES]

Keep in mind that you hear and see more negative stories because is just human nature that the troubling experiences are shared more than the beautiful and wonderful experiences.

A good therapist keeps the boundaries of therapy intact and consistent. My therapy is talk therapy and I know I am safe because I have experienced her acceptance, patience, concern, empathy, and more. I know this is how it will always be with her. It took me 9 months to talk much at all but she just kept being there patiently waiting. I had been in therapy before and it wasn't helpful. This time I researched types of therapies and therapists. I found that I wanted a therapist who was psychoanalytically oriented. I contacted the psychoanalytic institute in the largest city near me and asked for a referral to a candidate who is in my location. The candidates are highly screened therapists who are students at the institute; my therapist had been a therapist for over 20 years at that time. I have to add that my therapist is a LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) and there was a time that I thought nothing but a PhD would do. In my experience, this is the best help I've received and that includes several PhD's that I saw. We simply talk. No guided imagery, hypnosis, play, touching, etc. It is just talking.

It takes time to become comfortable and to allow trust to grow, while talking about it the whole time. I've had many discussions on trust, my fears, my suspicions, my discomfort, etc with my therapist. She is always willing to talk about anything I want to talk about. I feel better than I have for a long time. That feeling better came gradually, like a scrape that heals up slowly over time. I still have much work to do, and that's okay. I really like being there and talking to her.

[homealone]

[quote=ECHOES;2083209]Keep in mind that you hear and see more negative stories because is just human nature that the troubling experiences are shared more than the beautiful and wonderful experiences.
I'm trying to remind myself of this fact. That is what prompted me to write here, to get more positive experiences instead of internet negativity and sexual assault statistics. I know there has to be good to be found, and I firmly believe in the newest younger generation of practitioners and care givers out in the field today. There is a different motivation for hem in todays world that did not used to be present even just a few years past. The older sexually liberated hippie generation that flocked to psych guru Masters & Johnson/Kinsley industry at the end of the sexual revolution, were dangerous to say the least. They are the basis for the ills of modern day society.

A good therapist keeps the boundaries of therapy intact and consistent. My therapy is talk therapy and I know I am safe because I have experienced her acceptance, patience, concern, empathy, and more. I have to add that my therapist is a LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) and there was a time that I thought nothing but a PhD would do. In my experience, this is the best help I've received and that includes several PhD's that I saw.
I have come to the conclusion that the more alphabet they advertise their name with, the greater the ego and desire for power play. Hence, the greater the chance of exploitation or rape.
I'd be happy with someone who had absolutely no credentials, or minimal education for that matter, and just had a desire to explain correct thinking about how people act.

We simply talk. No guided imagery, hypnosis, play, touching, etc. It is just talking.
This goes back to the pseudo professionals I mentioned earlier.
No one will ever have the opportunity to manipulate or assault me while in some hypnotic control, or even in a state of natural transference.
I'll never relinquish that much control over to another individual ever in my life, unless other people are present like a group therapy or surgical room under anesthesia.

Thank you Echoes for writing. Are there any people outside paid therapist you can think of who might posses enough common knowledge to explain proper sexual relations among people to me ? Homealone