Comments on: The “Highs” of Just Plain Bad Therapy

By: Kel

Kel — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:25:04 +0000

I too had a less than healthy experience with a pastoral therapist who turned out to be unlicensed and uneducated. He had no degree in counseling at the time, and was using our sessions in the manner described in the article. I was in long term therapy with this man, and in the last 6 months of the therapy, he began to attempt to seduce me into a sexual relationship, though I didn’t allow it. I eventually found the strength to leave the relationship, and also, my life had all but fallen apart in those two years. Once I broke free and began to start the slow healing process, I took action against him, utilizing the services of an attorney. I highly recommend going down that road, especially if you have been deceived and exploited by someone in a professional capacity.

By: Sarah Luczaj

Sarah Luczaj — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:09:28 +0000

So sorry to hear of your bad experiences, Susan and Michelle.

As you say, Susan, you ‘had your own projections’ – I think this can be a all part of therapy, it certainly happens more often than not. The skill of the therapist should be in throwing some light on them and helping you to work through them to a more realistic view, not to feed their own ego…

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:47:24 +0000

Great article. I was a victim in the most horrendous way.

By: So Much More Than A Mom

So Much More Than A Mom — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:28:07 +0000

I have never experienced this, thank goodness. But it’s almost like just another distraction for the patient…like an affair or an addiction. No real progress can be made but the patient just knows they feel better when with this “therapist”. Yikes. Great article!

By: Susan G.

Susan G. — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:02:21 +0000

Thank you for your observations.

I was sucked into such an unhealthy therapeutic relationship when I was younger. Though I had my own role and projections, the therapist certainly did his part leading me to think he was all powerful.

At this point, I see psychotherapy as a runaway religion in this country. We’re looking to it for too many answers and not examining it critically.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:32:22 +0000

Thanks for your insightful column

It’s revealing that so few in the psychotherapy profession have the courage to address how therapy can be damaging. Please. Let’s have much more discussion of this topic.