rights Archives - Glory in Growth

Demystifying Complaint Grounds: A Confidence Boost in Therapy Rights

Hey there! Let’s dive into something crucial: understanding your rights and navigating discomfort during therapy. I’ve journeyed through the mental health care system myself, and I get it—the prevalence of malpractice isn’t cool, and it’s time we shed some light on this issue!

Therapists often forget to share info about our rights or how to report when therapy feels off. Feeling lost and uncertain during therapy, I realized the lack of guidance on reporting malpractice. Discovering these procedures as an adult made me wish therapists would share this essential info upfront.

Navigating mental health care can be a maze, especially for marginalized communities. Therapist missteps aren’t uncommon. Recognizing these experiences is crucial in a flawed system where folks from marginalized backgrounds face more hurdles to receive proper care. It’s time we acknowledge this reality and work towards change.

Recognizing warning signs in therapy is like having a superpower—it helps us spot what doesn’t feel right. Let’s delve into this, identifying what might signal discomfort during therapy and empowering ourselves to address it head-on.

Consider reporting your therapist if you experience any of these things:

Feeling Weird Vibes: If your therapist hits on you, gets too touchy, or makes you feel uncomfortable by crossing that personal boundary, that’s a big red flag.
Applying Pressure: Imagine if your therapist tries to rope you into some side gig or personal thing that has nothing to do with therapy? Not cool.
Boundary Blurring: Your therapist stepping over the line, using their position in a way that doesn’t feel right, or making things too personal? That’s crossing boundaries you shouldn’t have to deal with.
Secrets Leaking: Your therapist spilling your secrets without your permission? Not okay. Our stuff is meant to stay between us and them.
Therapist Ghosting: Imagine your therapist suddenly vanishing without notice. Not cool, right? You deserve a heads-up and some guidance to find another therapist.
Unqualified Services: Say your therapist tries to play doctor or offers something totally outside their expertise, like giving medical advice? Not their lane to be in.
Sketchy Services: What if your therapy sessions start feeling like a bizarre experiment or just plain unsafe? That’s not what therapy’s about.
Illegal Stuff: Imagine your therapist involves you in shady or illegal activities. That’s a huge no-no, whether it’s fraud or anything else that’s not right.
Mystery Actions: Your therapist doing things without explaining or making you part of an experiment without giving you a heads-up? That’s just not fair.
Discriminatory Speech or Actions: If your therapist makes comments or acts in ways that are clearly discriminatory or hurtful, that’s absolutely not okay.

Here’s the thing: trust your gut! If any of these scenarios resonate with you, it’s okay to feel uneasy. You have every right to feel safe and respected during therapy.

Now, let’s take some power back! Reach out to someone you trust, keep notes if things seem off, and don’t hesitate to contact your local licensing board. They’re the folks who can help you navigate the process of filing a complaint against a therapist.

Remember, you’re not alone in this. By speaking up and taking action, you’re not just standing up for yourself, but also helping make therapy a better and safer space for everyone. You’ve got this! 🌟

Empowering Mental Health Rights: A Guide for Individuals Seeking Support

Hey there, fellow mental health champions! Picture a world where seeking support for your mental well-being is met with respect, understanding, and fairness for all. Unfortunately, it’s not always the case, especially for People of Color like us. I’ve been down that road; I’ve witnessed my family face mistreatment within the mental health care system since I was a kid. It never felt right, but I didn’t know much about human rights back then. It wasn’t until my teenage years in foster care, that I stumbled upon a volunteer program that armed us with valuable documents about our rights. That was a game-changer! Knowing my rights became my shield against mistreatment, and it’s been a powerful tool ever since.

Let’s dive into this Mental Patient’s Bill of Rights – an incredible set of rules designed to make sure we get the dignity and care we deserve in our mental health journeys.

Right to the Right Kind of Care: When you step into a mental health program, you have the right to treatment and services that respect who you are and what you need.
Your Plan, Your Say: You’ve got the right to a plan that’s all about you – your needs, your goals. Plus, it’s okay to ask for changes if things aren’t working out.
You’re in the Driver’s Seat: Want to be part of your treatment plan? Heck yes! You’ve got every right to know what’s going on, what your treatment goals are, and what your options are in a way that makes sense to you.
Say “No” When You Need To: Your consent matters. No one can force treatment on you unless it’s an emergency or required by the law.
No Restraints Without Reason: Nobody should tie you down unless it’s absolutely necessary. Your dignity matters, even in tough times.
Your Space Matters: You deserve a safe and respectful place where you can heal without feeling like your privacy is being invaded.
Your Secrets Are Safe: Your mental health records should stay confidential, and you can take a peek at them if you need to, except for some specific bits.
Keep in Touch: Staying connected matters! You’ve got the right to chat with loved ones and visitors unless there’s a darn good reason not to, and it’s written down.
If Things Go Wrong: Got a problem with how you’re being treated? Speak up! You’ve got the right to be heard and taken seriously.
You’re Not Alone: There are folks out there to help you understand and stand up for your rights without any repercussions.
Finding the Right Fit: When it’s time to move on, you’ve got the right to be referred to someone else who can continue helping you.

Knowing these rights flips the script. It’s like having your superpower in the mental health care universe. It’s about claiming your worth, steering your own mental health journey, and demanding respect and support you rightly deserve.

Remember, these rights are here to back you up, no matter what. They’ve been my lifesavers, and I hope they’ll be yours too. Embrace them as tools to dodge mistreatment, advocate for yourself, and create a mental health journey filled with respect, understanding, and support. Your mental well-being matters, and these rights ensure that you’re treated with the dignity and care you deserve, no less!

Here is a link to 42 U.S. Code § 9501, The Mental Patients’ Bill of Rights, provided by Cornell Law School. Always remember: you never have to blindly trust a health professional, especially if you suspect that you are being mistreated.