[HD7970GHZ]

Hi all,

I am a victim of unethical therapists in the public health care system. I am looking for people anonymously who have been through this as well.

PLEASE respond with a yes if you have been through something like this.

Thanks,
HD

[HD7970GHZ]

Or send me a PM.

Can you be more specific?

"Unethical" can mean different things to different people.

[ThunderGoddess]

Yes I am adding a thread about this issue with some very important facts some people are unaware of.

[HD7970GHZ]

It can be any kind of unethical conduct.

Anything from breaking the law, writing lies about you in health records, changing and altering documentation, denying treatment, colluding against and using ones mental illness as a method of performing abuse of any kind, gaslighting, forced institutionalization for no reason, breaking confidentiality, communication between the private and public sector, etc.

Anything and everything.

I happen to have experienced most things listed above. It is incredibly traumatic and I am looking for individuals to come forward ANONYMOUSLY and share their story so that others can take their insight and prevent it from happening again.

My advice: order health records NOW.

[nicoleflynn]

Originally Posted by HD7970GHZ

Hi all,

I am a victim of unethical therapists in the public health care system. I am looking for people anonymously who have been through this as well.

PLEASE respond with a yes if you have been through something like this.

Thanks,
HD

I sent you a PM.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by HD7970GHZ

It can be any kind of unethical conduct.

Anything from breaking the law, writing lies about you in health records, changing and altering documentation, denying treatment, colluding against and using ones mental illness as a method of performing abuse of any kind, gaslighting, forced institutionalization for no reason, breaking confidentiality, communication between the private and public sector, etc.

Anything and everything.

I happen to have experienced most things listed above. It is incredibly traumatic and I am looking for individuals to come forward ANONYMOUSLY and share their story so that others can take their insight and prevent it from happening again.

My advice: order health records NOW.

here in the USA it is not unethical for a treatment provider to deny treatment. here treatment providers can choose who they work with and what mental disorders they treat. there are also laws here in the USA that do allow treatment providers to break confidentiality example as what america calls mandated reporters if treatment providers know someone is a danger to their self and others they can break confidentiality. they are in some states required to do so.

my point...what you state is unethical depends upon ones own location and laws for ones own location.

my suggestion before one assumes they have been treated wrong by a treatment provider based on what is found here in psych central please check with your own locations legal and ethical standards.

that said a person can.....feel....like they have been treated wrong by their treatment providers. here in the USA we have state ethics boards who welcome being contacted. they will gladly check out any treatment providers that anyone feels has wronged them and if it turns out that treatment provider has broken the laws of ethics action is taken to sanction or remove that treatment providers credentials and ability to work as a mental health treatment provider.

[SlayGuy138]

PM sent. I feel as if the details are too distressing to post in a public forum.

[Patagonia]

My final therapist came highly recommended. A great find. Worked w/ her for 3 yrs & in certain areas she was helpful.

But her "spiritual" side of things started to drive a wedge between us. She'd voice her opinion on what I was going wrong.
This became too much to bear. The guilt & shame I felt in her office was rediculous.
I decided to leave. Gracefully. So she decided to share her moral issues with my PDoc I guess calling it therapy notes.

I wasn't asking to be judged. I was asking for help. She could not understand my situation bec it went against her values.

I won't return to the therapy arena again. I'm finished with it.

[(JD)]

Oh goodness I can't count them! The ones I have run into...errrr been SENT to are part of the "THE SYSTEM" of worker compensation... you know, the ones already on the authorized list of doctors who have agreed to say just what the insurance company wants???

I have to have periodic evaluations (IMEs) from "their" people to be able to receive treatment of any kind from "my" doctors.... I even had to see one who never even saw me and had his report of my session already written up on the desk....where I could see it as I waited for him to show... which he did not. This was before cell phones and cameras folks.... or I'd had them all in legal terms!

IT NEVER FAILS that at least ONE of them will state outright that I "have NO disabling factors nor do I suffer from PTSD or any other malady..." Truly an out and out lie, but what the insurance company wants to use in court. It rarely goes farther than the mediation though, as when so many NON system doctors contradict what their "insurance *****" (yep folks, that's what they are called/known as here) had said.

I don't understand why they are allowed to continue practicing.

The more sage ones do things to just infuriate you or confuse you and then write it up that you are faking or something. I had one IME with one of the system psychiatrists who repeated everything I said back into a microphone for recording...like it didn't record when I had said it? And he didn't wait until I was done speaking/answering his dumb questions but began repeating like the word after each of mine... comedy echo?

I had another one, also company psychiatrist, who only wanted to talk about blood.... each time I was required to see him...so the "last" time I went I recorded him because none of my other doctors nor my attorney believed me (you see, the quack doctor convinces everyone you really are a mental case but then set out to prove you are faking ) ...and I (illegally, yes) recorded and re-played the tape for my doctors...and yes, he only asked questions about blood but his input forms stated absurd things that he never asked about. I couldn't use any of this in hearing because in FL you have to have two party agreement for taping voice. But I was going nutso over these quacks I had to do something for MY sanity!

There are countless more... only one that I know was "found out" by the hospital establishment...years after I suffered his torture... He lied in front of me to a panel of authorities regarding whether I should be allowed into the pain program... instead of the insurance company paying for a one month stay, I ended up going for a whole year of pain management before jaw surgery.... so that was another whole year with my jaw off both hinges excruciating pain, unable to open my mouth but a half inch and could not chew anything, couldn't talk much , migraines etc... just because he said I wasn't in real pain and wasn't needing the center, that I would be non-compliant! When I asked, in front of the panel, how he came to that conclusion, he replied something to the effect of "based upon the input from me" and I pushed that...because as I told the panel that psychiatrist had not even sat in and interviewed me and the paperwork he had me fill in was still on the desk in my room!!! They still did not accept me into the program (just as well actually, as I would have had to be "treated" by this quack." ) Years later he was released from the hospital for same type of behavior (what took them so long?)

But these were psychiatrists.

I once had a meeting with a counselor that my spouse was seeing...trying ? to keep from divorce? Well, she treated me badly to say the least. First, she "forgot" I had an appointment with her...and she showed up 45 minutes late to her office. Then she began to attack ME... and overreacting by saying things like, Oh you really are angry! I realized months later that my spouse was SEEING her all right...and not for therapy! I did report her but she was not a licensed psychologist nor registered counselor per se so there was no professional recourse by the State.

I personally studied nouthetic confrontation counseling at first... but found those counselors to be too harsh regarding spirituality...and could not work with them at all. Some of them were even so narrow minded that they didn't "believe" women were "allowed" to be counselors except to women. I didn't like their kind of counseling and consider it non-professional as they almost demanded that they were right and that I or the client wasn't thinking correctly regarding what they knew... that was abusive to me.

BUT, not to leave a bad taste in your mouth (though I know the thread is about that)...I have been on the side of many wonderful, caring, educated and compassionate psychologists and really want anyone needing help/therapy to seek someone out. If their gut instinct says change doctors though, do it! There are good ones "out there".

Addendum: regarding that one psychiatrist that had been connected to a hospital... I found out later that a friend of mine through Girl Scouting had had a bad run in with him as well... he BAKER ACTED her (put her into psych ward for 72 hours against her will, via police etc) she had been into the ER for feeling really bad...and it turns out that her 3 doctors had NOT consulted with each other regarding meds and had ignored her WRITTEN notation of what each doctor had her taking, so when THEY, the MDs overdosed her... she ended up in the ER... this psychiatrist didn't take any of it into account either and admitted her to the lock up ward. He visited her later, as she was TIED to the bed, and snickered and patted her and made some rude retaliatory comments to her. grrrrr I have to admit that after her and my issues with this guy, one day he was walking down the MIDDLE of the back road by the hospital where I was driving and for a split second I had an evil thought... .

I'll start by saying there are really good psychiatrists and psychologists and really bad psychiatrists and psychologists.

I think psychiatry's biggest problem is too many of them are in bed with the pharmaceutical companies. Patients are either over-prescribed or under-prescribed medications depending on which pharmaceutical company the psychiatrist is working for. Due to a lack of transparency, too many psychiatrists are collecting speaking fees, symposium fees, travel and dining fees, etc. from pharmaceutical companies. This is not only unethical on its face but detrimental to patients. Like I said, until we have greater transparency this will continue unabated.

Psychology is coming off its worst year ever. The American Psychological Association (APA) lost a significant amount of its members in 2015 due to the involvement of key leaders of the APA in CIA and DoD interrogation techniques. This even included a member of the APA's Ethical Board. Many psychologists resigned (including the founder and CEO of this website) who now viewed membership in the APA as more of a liability than an asset.

My hope is that the scandals that have rocked both APAs will produce more transparency and provide Ethics Boards with more teeth.

Patients deserve no less.

[The_little_didgee]

I've been through hell because of a misdiagnosis. All the assumptions that came with it caused so much confusion. The medication I was given made the situation worse, because it wasn't necessary. Actually it caused a lot of symptoms that were misinterpreted. I also ended up with an inaccurate psychiatric history, so I could fit their label. It was easier to search for "repressed sexual abuse memories", which I never ever experienced than to do an accurate assessment. I was left confused and profoundly hurt. Eventually I had to leave psychiatry, because they were killing me.

Not all therapists/psychiatrists are unethical. A few have actually helped me after I had to return to the service about 5 years later. I developed psychosis, a new and very different disorder, than what I was treated for during my teen years. This experience was very different. Eventually I started to trust them and see the other side of the service.

It is possible to recover from unethical mental health professionals and get an apology. Two psychiatrists recently apologized. I never thought that would ever happen. This happened without the use of lawyers.

If you want to know more about my story send me a private message. It may help to know that I'm Canadian.

[here today]

I wonder if some sort of consumer protection approach, other than just professional ethics, might be a way to go, at least in the US currently?

For instance, from the US Federal Trade Commission website:

The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection stops unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by collecting complaints and conducting investigations, suing companies and people that break the law, developing rules to maintain a fair marketplace, and educating consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities.

It would certainly take a legislation change, which would take a movement of some sort. But when I was growing up in the 1950's "buyer beware" was the norm. Even though people say they don't like "government interference", I think things are much better generally for consumers now.

Not sure how that might work in Canada. But still some sort of client protection could go hand in hand with something in the US.

[(JD)]

Part of the problem with complaining is.... they doubt the patients ability to assess the true situation in the first place. The patient is having mental issues of some sort to begin with and let's face it, many do not read the doctor or what he/she says correctly.

But abuse is abuse. I think the way to go is to allow the taping of sessions to be legal for a patient (not the doctor without patient written approval)... allowing the patient to legally secretly tape the sessions and share them with another professional (whether an MD, PhD or attorney). Otherwise, it's he said she said and we all know who wins that one.

Sorry..didn't mean to highjack the thread.

[Dayanne]

This may be minor compared to what others have experienced. At this time, I'm low income, so I go to a public clinic that uses a sliding scale. There was a wonderful psychiatrist I saw when I first started, but he left after only a couple appointments. He put me on Wellbutrin at my last appointment with him, and it made a big difference. He also had me on Ativan, which really helped with the overwhelming anxiety. I was only taking the ativan at first to stabilize my anxiety. Then, I started only taking it for panic attacks.

When he left, they assigned me to another psychiatrist. She's condescending. I dread going to see her. She treats me like I'm a kid and minimizes anything I describe. I'm not trying to be a difficult patient or there to get meds to get high. I'm just trying to figure out what is wrong with me and how to keep everything afloat. But, I feel I'm sinking since I went back to college.

I've always had trouble keeping my house together, remembering appointments. I'm forgetful to the point anyone who knows me comments about it. I feel like my mind races a hundred miles an hour; it difficult for me to relax. I never considered it until a family member, who is a mental health nurse, said I have many of the symptoms of ADHD. I brought it up to my psych., but she blew me off, and said depression will cause those symptoms.

My life situation has improved; I don't feel sad anymore or like the future is hopeless. But, I'm still very much struggling to organize my life. After I tried to describe all this the psych., she accused me of fishing for meds... I couldn't believe it, and felt like she was classifying me as something I'm not. I only take 150 mg of Wellbutrin and don't take Ativan anymore. She changed me to a blood pressure pill for anxiety; it isn't helping. I don't understand it at all. I'm not on any other narcotics. I take singulair for asthma and use my rescue inhaler, but no other drugs. I know she can check my pharma record. The family member, who is a mental health nurse, couldn't believe she treated me that way, and said she could always check if she's concerned.

I don't know what to do, because I can't afford to go anywhere else. I'm afraid everything is going to come crashing down as I get farther along in my college program. Many people speak of how intense the field experiences and how organized and busy that time is. I started having panic attacks about it. My mind has been racing and I can't shut it off. I feel like I have restless leg syndrome and can't stand sitting still. I'm sorry to vent! Thanks for reading all this.

[Molinit]

No offense to anyone planning to do this for a living, but I've found that many therapists are attracted to the field because they are deeply troubled people themselves - and it's not a matter of someone who can't take their own advice - sometimes these people just enjoy manipulating others.

[dancinglady]

Yes I have had similar experiences.

In the UK therapist do not prescribe meds. Pyschiatrists are not known a therapist. Must be an American thing.

Can you be more specific about what this is for/where it will be shared/why?

[RedSun]

I think Mouse has a very valid point too. Certainly in the UK and europe, and my understanding is theUS as well, psychologists and psychiatrists are not therapists. Different role, different goal, different ethics.

[missbella]

A co-therapist team tried to bully and intimidate me from leaving group therapy.

[Hopelesspoppy]

We are all over the place here. Please PM me, I can give you suggestions of where to look for us. And if you are wondering if you are being victimized, chances are you're right...

Some psychiatrists in the UK do use psychotherapy with clients, particularly in cases of severe mental ill-health, however it is unlikely to be as regular and structured as you would find with a psychotherapist. It relates to the differences is health systems in the two countries; as psychiatrists are medical doctors, they are generally seen through the NHS, and would have the primary function of diagnosing and prescribing medication. There would usually not be the funds available in the NHS for psychiatrists to offer meaningful psychotherapy too. Most long-term psychotherapy is delivered privately, and only shorter forms such as CBT and time limited tend to be widely available on the NHS.
Private psychiatrists in the UK are a different story and may offer a combination of therapies, much like the American system. Of course, because the vast majority of the UK don't have medical insurance, fewer people use private psychiatrists.
It's also worth mentioning that psychiatrists delivering in-patient care may sometimes offer something resembling psychotherapy to some patients where other therapies aren't available. This will almost always be dealing with severe mental illness.
Anyhoo, getting a bit OT....

[junkDNA]

Possible trigger:

sexually abused

by a male T