Therapist Lied. Now What?

junkDNA · May 23, 2018, 05:45 AM

the "therapeutic school" my mom sent me to as a teenager had a clinical psychologist working with us who had falsified credentials. they got invesitigated for child abuse and it came out. the staff didn't care abt it though I mean look at how they were treating us.. anyway there was a class action lawsuit I could have joined but opted out

so yeah. it happens

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echos Myron (again)

It does happen. My first therapist lied about having a particular credential that was checkable online. When I asked him he had a stupid reason for lying on his website and because I was so attached at the time I didn't do anything.

toomanycats · May 23, 2018, 06:27 AM

You're sure she wasn't talking about something she used to do in another state?

starfishing · May 23, 2018, 07:47 AM

Definitely talk to her about it, given how much it's bothering you. As others have said, there may be a simple bureaucratic explanation or misunderstanding. And if it's more complicated than that, so be it and you can decide what to do based on how the conversation goes--though I would encourage you to consider making it a conversation where you're open to multiple possible explanations rather than a full on confrontation. Given your history it's completely understandable that you're not inclined to trust, and the issue of whether you trust your current therapist enough to work productively is an important one.

Alden · May 30, 2018, 01:11 AM

The Licensing Board got back to me again, It turns out that she is a Supervisor, but the verification system is "glitchy" - their word.

Now I need to deal with my trust issues and why I'm looking for ways to push her away and/or destroy our relationship.

Amyjay · May 30, 2018, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alden

The Licensing Board got back to me again, It turns out that she is a Supervisor, but the verification system is "glitchy" - their word.

Now I need to deal with my trust issues and why I'm looking for ways to push her away and/or destroy our relationship.

That's good to hear.
Therapists are good at working with trust issues.

SalingerEsme · May 30, 2018, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alden

The Licensing Board got back to me again, It turns out that she is a Supervisor, but the verification system is "glitchy" - their word.

Now I need to deal with my trust issues and why I'm looking for ways to push her away and/or destroy our relationship.

That is a really pivotal moment, like when a door swings open on a hinge. I am glad she didn't lie, truly.

May 30, 2018, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alden

I just recently got away from an abusive therapist, and thankfully at the time I was seeing another therapist for EMDR only.

My EMDR therapist has become my regular therapist and I have known her for over year because she was my DBT group facilitator also.

Recently while we were talking about the reality that my complaint with the Board of Behavioral Health may result in no sanctions against the abusive therapist, my new therapist mentioned that she supervises interns and license applicants and that she is very thorough and has had to deny license approval and explain why to the Board.

She went on to talk about how she wished more supervisors were more thorough so that people like my abusive therapist don't get their license in the first place.

There is one big problem with her story. She is not licensed with the Licensing Board as a Supervisor or in any Supervisory status.

I first looked her up on the online verification tool the state has and nothing showed up. Then I emailed the Board of Behavioral Health and they confirmed that she is not currently, nor has she ever been, licensed as a Supervisor.

Now I don't know what to do. That seems like a rather elaborate lie to make a point. I don't know how she could talk her way out of it if I confront her, and it isn't a lie that does me any harm.

My concern is that if she is willing to make up a lie like that, what else might she be willing to lie to me about that could possibly have a harmful impact on me.

I hate to throw away our relationship and I do like working with her, but I'm not sure I'm thinking clearly about this.

What would you do?

Do I confront her and deal with the possibility that she may simply decides we can't work together any longer?

Do I confront her and let her know that I can't work with someone who lies to me?

Do I just find another therapist and tell her that it isn't working for me any longer?

Do I just ignore it as a human flaw that everyone has to one degree or another and move on?

I don't know what to do.

Thanks!

Leave
If you can do the right thing by taking care of it - bonus points for you and many others who suffer
Nobody deserves an explanation for everything
Think of a boss who interviews a potential worker - they mostly don't explain why he does not get the job.
Same with therapists - they serve you, not themselves like some people think
Hence, according to that VERY simple logic, you as the boss do not need to tell the therapist what the problem is

Favorite Jeans · May 30, 2018, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alden

The Licensing Board got back to me again, It turns out that she is a Supervisor, but the verification system is "glitchy" - their word.

Now I need to deal with my trust issues and why I'm looking for ways to push her away and/or destroy our relationship.

Well, here's the thing. You're doing your due diligence to make sure the relationship is safe because you know the potential is there for a therapist to be unsafe. You would check the references on a babysitter for your kids too. The system failed you for a sec there with its glitchiness. Not your fault.

I think taking the issue to this forum was a way of giving her the benefit of doubt and doing a reality check. You didn't jump the gun. You sat with your discomfort for a while, considered many possible explanations and courses of action and then new information came to light.

Essentially that is the very description of doing a great job, no? So you don't need to be so hard on yourself. We walk this funny road where we have to both protect ourselves and trust others and we do the best we can. You're okay.

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Therapist Lied. Now What?

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