Sexual abuse involving therapists, clergy and judiciary: Closed ranks, collusions and conspiracies of silence

Abstract

The author examines eight cases in which women have been abused by their therapists. She outlines how clinical, legal and religious institutions were either less than helpful or overtly involved in cover ups of the abuse. The author provides an overview of the complexities of detection, assessment, treatment and prevention of abuse in therapeutic relationships and concludes that professional bodies cannot regulate themselves in this area. She maintains that there is a need for independent statutory bodies to be established to deal with incidents of sexual abuse involving therapists.