Hi,
I went to see a marriage couselor who is friends with my personal therapist in the same office. After a few visits the marriage counselor did something unethical...asked me to join a multi-level marketing company he is in- I would be under him in a sales 'opportunity'. I am not so good at saying no, but I told him I am preoccupied with other things. Still, I am upset about this and I am not sure if I should tell my therapist that referred me since they are colleagues and I don't want to lose my therapist in the process! Ugh, how did I get myself into this.
Also, I went around blabbing to my friend who is friends with my therapist, so now I think I have messed up everything.
My insticts tell me I should just leave it alone and just stop seeing the marriage counselor and not to tell my therapist. Still I have a feeling that my 'friend' has already told people and it will get back to my therapist. I did not want that to happen, but it may be too late. Any thoughts ?
2006-08-14 03:32:33 · 16 answers · asked by livelaughlove 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Well it seems to me that you have nothing to feel bad about you did nothing wrong. Your marriage counselor should have know better then to ask a paitent who is coming to him/her with real concerns something so out of the ordinary. You didn't go to that counselor for a job interview you went to him/her for advice on your marital situation and it was his/her job to make sure that the line was not crossed. You telling your friend is probably the one thing in all of this that was the right thing to do. That counselor should be ashamed of him/herself to even add anymore burden on you while your going through this hard period in you life. I think if he/she wants to run a pyrimid program he/she should do that in his/her free spare time and not ask his/her clients to participate in his/her side interests. If anyone was unethical here it was indeed this so called marriage counselor. And for the record if it was me i'd drop the bum.
2006-08-14 03:54:11 · answer #1 · answered by chillingmona 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, you didn't get yourself into this mess, the unethical counselor did. Secondly, everything you say to your therapist, the one who referred you, is supposed to stay in his/her office and not be repeated. If you find that your therapist has repeated ANYTHING that you have said, find a new therapist. They work for you, not the other way around. You should never feel afraid of your therapist for any reason. I don't think that your therapist has done anything wrong. He/she probably does not know that the marriage councilor is recruiting through their office. Your therapist may want to know so that he/she can stop referring other people to them.
Learn to say no. If it is something that you are not interested in, say no. You will not offend that person and even if you do, so what, it is your life. If they were easily offended, they would not be in that line of work. Tell the marriage counselor that you felt it inappropriate that they would even bring that up and you will be seeing someone else. Maybe they may stop the unethical behavior and others may be spared. In the meantime, look for someone else. You should never have to feel uncomfortable about standing up for yourself. If you let people take advantage of you, they will. Be strong.
2006-08-14 03:57:52 · answer #2 · answered by Mykl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is unethical! Tell our therapist so that they are aware of the situation and see what they have to say about it. You can also report the marriage counselor to the board of behavioral health for your particular state. A counselor is not supposed to use their relationship with their clients/patients to further their own interests.
2006-08-14 05:46:14 · answer #3 · answered by mochi.girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should definitely report this or you can at least tell your regular therapist. The marriage counselor is in violation of the ethics code:
5.06 In-Person Solicitation
Psychologists do not engage, directly or through agents, in uninvited in-person solicitation of business from actual or potential therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence.
You can start by telling your therapist (who may want to address it informally) or even report it to your state's Board of Psychology.
2006-08-14 13:29:26 · answer #4 · answered by psychgrad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never mind telling friends and therapist... that's just school yard tattling. Tell whatever governing body is responsible for ethics or licensing of professional therapists. If you don't, the next person he preys on could end losing a lot of money.
2006-08-14 04:28:15 · answer #5 · answered by nimbleminx 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just find you a new marriage counselor!
And if you think that your therapist will have an issue with that then maybe you need a new one of those too!
2006-08-14 03:46:21 · answer #6 · answered by Bunnie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would report it to the college of psychologists. See the American Psychological Assocation's website. The therapist is abusing their position of trust/authority for profitable gain. They will continue to do it and possibly negatively affect the therapeutic process in a more vulnerable individual
2006-08-14 05:52:30 · answer #7 · answered by Alex R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would remove myself from the situation altoghther. Find a new counselor and a new therapist. Then report the counselor for misconduct.
2006-08-14 03:40:45 · answer #8 · answered by Terra T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow. That is SO unethical.
I would tell your therapist, and I would contact the professional board (Start by calling the medical board - they can refer you) and report him/her.
2006-08-14 03:39:40 · answer #9 · answered by sylvia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Therapist should not get mad at you after all that is why you are there they are the unethical ones. you might want to consider switching though. :-)
2006-08-14 03:39:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋