When Your Therapist Does Harm
Recognizing manipulation and exploitation in therapeutic relationships.
Posted April 27, 2026 | Reviewed by Hara Estroff Marano
When most people think of a cult, they picture an organization with one leader and many followers. However, the same manipulative dynamics can exist in a one-on-one relationship, including between a therapist and client.
We trust therapists with something profound: access to our hurts and pains, seeing us at our most vulnerable. The trust creates an enormous power imbalance, and, as with any power imbalance, a therapist acting unethically, can misuse it.
The Problem with Power Differentials
When a person enters therapy , the therapist presents themselves as an authority on the human mind and behavior, someone who is qualified to help us solve and work through our most intimate situations. The perception of expertise creates immediate vulnerability, which a therapist has a responsibility to recognize and manage.
The ethical responsibility for maintaining appropriate boundaries rests entirely with the therapist, never the client. Yet, in cases of therapist abuse, the therapist may attempt to shift blame onto the client. Meanwhile, the therapist’s authority goes unchallenged, and the relationship may continue for years with no measurable benefit.
The power differential makes recognizing the warning signs of harm inherently difficult, as our society does not typically recognize the idea of a “harmful healer.” If you have been seeing a therapist for many years without meaningful progress, misuse of power is a possibility worth examining. Several red flags warrant consideration.
A therapist should have relevant expertise in your area of need. If you find yourself having to explain the basics of your situation, be it trauma recovery, family dynamics, or cult involvement, an ethical therapist has the obligation to refer you to someone more qualified or seek expert supervision.
It should not have to be said, but sexual behavior between therapist and client is never acceptable. While strong feelings can and do arise, maintaining strict boundaries is the therapist’s unequivocal responsibility. It is never appropriate to blame a client for a sexual or romantic relationship that develops during the course of therapy, even if the client initiated it.
Finally, ethical therapy builds autonomy. It helps clients develop their own capacity to think and choose. A therapist who discourages questions or belittles a client for raising doubts is practicing something that has no place in legitimate mental healthcare.
A written code of ethics binds licensed therapists and credentialed professionals: It requires them to complete regular training to maintain their license. However, it would be a mistake to assume that credentials automatically guarantee ethical behavior.
Some therapists who lose their licenses relocate to another jurisdiction, continue practicing without a license, or rebrand themselves with unregulated designations such as “life coach.”
Bad Therapy Mirrors Cult Tactics
When confronted about misconduct, unethical practitioners rarely accept responsibility. Instead, they follow a predictable pattern known as DARVO: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender.
The therapist denies wrongdoing and attacks the person raising the concern. Then, they reframe themselves as the real victim, perhaps claiming that the client’s behavior provoked the situatio or that critics simply cannot understand their approach. If you have ever raised a concern with a therapist and found yourself feeling coerced to apologize for daring to doubt the therapist, you may recognize this pattern.
A therapist should never encourage you to isolate yourself from significant family members or friends without a clear therapeutic rationale, as isolation is a hallmark of coercive control. Cult-leader-like therapists may see multiple family members simultaneously and use information from one to manipulate another, keeping clients dependent and confused while isolating them from potential support.
Sometimes, it is harder to tell whether such situations reflect truly unethical therapy. For instance, a therapist may appropriately advise and support a client in cutting off contact with abusive individuals, acting in your best interest.
However, if the therapist is encouraging you to end relationships with nearly all close relationships and other clinicians, and you are increasingly dependent on that therapist, that is a strong indicator of unethical treatment.
Listen to Your Doubts
People in abusive therapeutic relationships can often sense that something is wrong long before they name it. We may override that instinct because we understandably trust the authority figure, feel we have invested too much to question it, or because the therapist has gradually taught us to distrust our own perceptions.
Estelle Disch, Ph.D., has compiled an excellent, extensive checklist, “Is There Something Wrong or Questionable in Your Treatment?” I recommend it to all who are currently questioning their therapy. You can always get a second opinion! TELL (Therapy Exploitation Link Line) is a peer-support service for those who feel they have been exploited by a psychotherapist; it exists precisely to help people process what they have experienced and connect with others who understand it.
Victims of unethical therapy are often remarkably resilient . Once they have accurate information, connecting with others who have had similar experiences is a powerful step toward healing.
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Steven Hassan, Ph.D., is a mental health professional, cult and undue influence expert who has been working in the field of relationship, group, and political cults for over 40 years.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.