Brochure Misbruik
door Hulpverleners (MdH)
English Version
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.
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.
·
Links to other
related organizations and web sites.
Transference
is not love
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 site 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.
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.
Our goals
are
·
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