Abstract
Finding subsequent treatment for problems arising from emotional and/or sexual misconduct by a therapist is difficult for most victims. While generally recognizing the need for subsequent treatment, victims are often ambivalent about seeing another professional, do not trust themselves to evaluate and wisely select a subsequent treater, and often fear that exploitation will recur. Many feel revictimized by potential or actual subsequent treaters who appear to discount, minimize, blame, and / or emotionally over-or underreact to the victim's story. Others report feeling that subsequent treaters have interrogated them about the abusive experience, demanded the name of the abuser, or imposed expectations regarding action. These are but a few of the situations that lead to “therapist shopping” and/or premature termination of subsequent treatment. In the experiences of more than 3,500 women and men who have contacted the Therapy Exploitation Link Line (TELL) network since its inception in 1989, recognition and acceptance of the victim's ambivalence toward the abuser, acknowledgment and acceptance of the victim's inability to trust, and setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries are three of many factors that predict whether subsequent treatment will succeed.