Posted by Verloren on December 23, 2009, at 1:46:21
In reply to Re: Mentally disordered therapist, posted by dancinbillie on December 11, 2009, at 19:33:31
Hi Dancinbillie,
I'm so sorry you've had to struggle with this information by yourself for so long. You have been very strong and very supportive to her. Congrats on stepping outside of your role! However, I feel that you are definitely not overreacting with your concern.
This T really needs help and she has been lying to herself and to others about her situation. She even knows that she is wrong if she realizes that she would not be allowed to practice if they knew about her disease. That rule is in place for a reason; to protect vulnerable people like ourselves from being irreversibly and irreparably hurt. If she's only in her 50s then she can do a lot more damage before she finally retires or is discovered.
It doesn't seem like (imo) she respects the advice you've been giving her as her chat buddy. She seems self absorbed and deluded. Please, if you have the ability to help her save herself and others, I urge you to deeply consider doing so.
I think I would feel very guilty in your shoes for turning her in, but there are tests and rigorous forms they have to fill out to ensure they understand and accept the rules of being in a therapy practice. She knew the ramifications and chose to ignore them. She mentioned she talks about suicide. I would feel even guiltier when she eventually hurts herself and all her patients are stuck in limbo trying to find a new therapist.
So sorry for being so forward. I am really a stickler for rules most times esp when they are in place to protect people. Gosh, this makes me wonder about others in this field who should not be.
It's not the sharing this info that I think is upsetting. I'm glad she's actually talking about it with someone. It's that she seems to be in complete denial that this could affect her negatively. This seems like the equivalent of a surgeon who operates on patients while drunk. It might not damage anyone for a while, but why risk it over the long term.
How do you feel about her now? You mention transference and counter transference issues? Do you have any transference for her still? Would it make you reluctant to report her if you did? Do you worry that she would be upset at you or not able to talk with you any longer if she was turned in?
I'm generally very open-minded too. Maybe a few of these things she believes in, I might think yeah ok, but all of those combined into one person is (imo) very unrealistic and her line of thinking seems to be definitely a result of her illness. Seeing that she gets help would not wreck her life, rather give her a chance to start living one. After 50 years of never truly living there must be some part of her psyche that's been so suppressed, waiting to finally live. From what you've said, it truly sounds like her life is already wrecked. There is no sense in her wrecking others too.
So I would ask myself these questions:
1. Will any good, that overcomes the negative, come out of her continuing to treat people?
2. Aside from her needing to find a new and appropriate career choice, what consequences would happen if she were reported?
3. What is the likelihood she would hurt herself one night, or even physically hurt someone (a woman she thinks is jealous of her perhaps) else?I'm not sure if I've given you food for thought but I hope I didn't upset you. I really hope you don't feel offended, ok.
Take care
-Verloren
poster:Verloren
thread:928726
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20091212/msgs/930467.html