Brochure Misbruik
door Hulpverleners (MdH)
English Version
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Misbruik door Hulpverleners (MdH) Abuse by Helping Professionals I N F O R M A T I O N &
S U P P O R T regarding sexual, mental, emotional, and physical misconduct by
professionals Sexual contact – of any kind
whatsoever – is never acceptable in a professional relationship. Sexual or
other misconduct by professionals is always wrong, unethical, and criminal.
Such behavior by a physician, therapist, teacher, trainer, or clergyman is in
violation of professional ethics. When a professional in a health service, school, sport or church has
abused his power or authority through sexual, mental, emotional or physical
misconduct, contact us. As the client, you are always in the weaker position in a professional
relationship. By definition, there is an imbalance
of power, and you are dependent on
the professional. Because of the imbalance of power, and the fact that
exclusively the professional is responsible for the professional
relationship, sexual contact or an affair can never be blamed on the client. www.misbruikdoorhulpverleners.nl |
Professional
Sexual Misconduct (PSM) How common is it? Research indicates that about 10% of
all professionals commit PSM at some time in their careers. More than half
of them are repeat offenders. What you can find on our web site ·
Information about
PSM from scientific & legal point of view and personal experiences of
victims/survivors. ·
DE WARANDE: a
virtual meeting point for victims/survivors. This is a closed forum on which one
can make contacts; share experiences and information; and offer each other
support. It is meant to be a safe haven for dealing with trauma. ·
An open forum for
discussion ·
A bulletin board
for seeking other victims/survivors (of the same perpetrator) of PSM. ·
A place to report
PSM. ·
Personal stories,
poems, and other creative contributions by victims/survivors. ·
Daily news
updates. ·
Free subscription
to our weekly newsletter. ·
Publication of
AdvocateWeb’s Message of Hope.
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PSM is very similar to incest, and is therefore sometimes called
therapeutic incest. Due to the major imbalance of power, the victim/survivor
can never be deemed to have consented. Accountability is always fully owed by
the person who is responsible for guarding and maintaining the
professionalism of the relationship: the professional. This is equally true
when the initiative for sexual contact is made by the client. The term ‘in
love’ is never appropriate. These are feelings of transference, originating
with a trusted person from the past, which are transferred tot the
professional, and not love for the professional himself. Transference refers to
feelings which the client, patient, or parishioner has for the caregiver or
minister which are based on projections of feelings associated with key
figures from the past or strong needs.
These may be feelings of excessive affection, trust, or even anger. Countertransference refers to feelings that a counselor,
therapist or helping professional develops towards the person with whose care
he has been entrusted. For whom is this site intended? This website is intended in particular for
victims/survivors of mental health professionals. The site is firstly a place for victims/survivors
of PSM to meet, exchange experiences, offer mutual support, and provide
information. Victims/survivors are clients/patients, students/pupils, and
religious community members who have (had) a sexual or social relationship with
a professional in the relevant field. Indirect
victims/survivors (spouses, friends, family, and colleagues of both the
victim/survivor and the offending professional) can also contact us. In
regard to information, we also welcome professionals (therapists, patient
advocates, teachers, clergy, policy makers, politicians, professional unions,
attorneys, police, judges, journalists, organizations, etc.) Professionals
who have been involved with PSM are also welcome on our site, and can, if
they wish, contact us anonymously. |
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These can be victims/survivors of PSM by colleagues (i.e. teacher,
trainer, supervisor) or professionals who have engaged in boundary crossing
behaviour themselves. Our site also recognizes female/female abuse. The phenomena of female
perpetrators and male victims/survivors has unfortunately until today
remained underexposed. Men who have been abused by professionals, and women
who have been abused by female professionals, are of course also welcome on
our site. We also try to expose the plight of particularly vulnerable
populations, such as people with disabilities and immigrants. The Consequences of PSM for
Victims/survivors Sexual misconduct by a professional is unprofessional, unethical, and illegal.
Sexual contact with a professional can never have any kind of therapeutic
function or value. In around 90% of the cases, the client sustains great and
long-term damage. Unfortunately, some people realize
only years later, others never, that they were abused. Some people maintain
the relationship for many years, and only very much later become aware of the
abuse of trust and power that has occurred. Usually the damage suffered by
the victim/survivor is iatrogenic, meaning it was not present before the
treatment, but caused by that treatment. In some cases problems are involved
that existed before the therapy, and recurred or became worse due to the
abuse. The damage may be mental, psycho-somatic, psycho-sexual, social and/or
financial. The majority sustain serious trauma and suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Their basic ability to trust, in particular in helping professionals, is
seriously damaged. Some other examples of damage are copious, unjustified
feelings of guilt and shame, fear, depression, irritability, reliving of the
traumatic experiences, nightmares, inability to concentrate, and becoming
suicidal. Often the victim/survivor becomes totally isolated. |
Consequences of PSM for third
parties Spouses, family, and other parties in the victim/survivor’s social
environment are also confronted with the consequences of PSM. Additionally,
there can be secondary victims/survivors (among them colleagues) around the
offending professional, whether male of female, who also experience
consequences from the person’s behavior. The image of the offending
professional’s entire profession is damaged. The cost to society is high. The
victims/survivors are often for many years, not infrequently, permanently, unable
to hold gainful employment. In addition, usually many years of therapy are
needed to be able to somewhat overcome the psychological trauma. PSM can happen to anybody Anyone involved
in a professional relationship can be exposed to abuse of trust and power by
a professional. Victims form a heterogeneous group. It happens to men as well
as women, children, adolescents, the elderly, well-educated people and less
educated people. It even happens to professionals themselves. |
·
Prevention by offering
correct information ·
Support for
victims/survivors ·
Influence on
current approaches General Information This web site was initiated by people with personal experiences with
the subject matter, and exists since Contact Don’t hesitate to contact us, if you wish, anonymously. We treat all
correspondence with the greatest of confidentiality. Contact us as well if
you are wondering whether your health professional’s treatment or behavior is
ethical or medically sound. You are also welcome if the relationship is still
going, and you have questions. With kind regards, The editor www.misbruikdoorhulpverleners.nl info@misbruikdoorhulpverleners.nl 0031 – 6 – 137 717 47 |