The Shadow Side of Mental Health Treatment & Policies
A look at the dark underbelly of psychological practices
I would like to believe that the majority of psychotherapists adhere to strict ethical guidelines and professional standards designed to protect clients. Certainly, I and the clinicians I associate with hold themselves to these principles. However, there are cases where therapists abuse their position of power, leading to emotional, psychological, or even physical harm to their clients. Recently I encountered this unfortunate reality when a woman reached out to me for trauma-informed treatment.
When I met with Kara for a consultation she presented with impressive ego-strengths and an illustrious career, in spite of extensive traumatic abuse inflicted by a psychopathic mother. However, the sexual predation perpetrated by a previous therapist threw her into a prolonged dorsal vagal shutdown, aka a functional freeze state. Understandably, this intensely damaging and confusing experience left deep emotional and psychological scars.
When someone with a history of complex trauma experiences abuse by a trusted person, it significantly exacerbates the effects of prior traumatic experiences. The new abuse can trigger intense flashbacks, memories, or emotions associated with past trauma. This is because the current…
