When today's guest Jonathan was 15, he felt lost, alone, and unable to voice the feelings and thoughts that were troubling him. The domestic roles he was fulfilling as a young man and full-time student, including caring for his ill mother while navigating his parent's divorce, eventually led to him seeking help from a therapist. This therapist gained Jonathan's trust by appearing to understand and relate to him. Jonathan did not have the experience to know that the healthy boundaries of a therapeutic relationship were never actually there.
From the beginning, this therapist used Jonathan's vulnerabilities to manipulate his emotions, and to control his relationships with his family and friends in order to isolate him and then insert himself and his wife into those roles. After 11 years of being manipulated, even being made to feel responsible for his therapist's life and personal needs, Jonathan was able to find a way out.
Today, for the first time anywhere, Jonathan bravely shares his story in order to help others. He wants people to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Along the way, Rachel provides some important insights on how to recognize the dangers of an unhealthy therapeutic relationship and how to better protect yourself from manipulation.
Before You Go: Rachel further examines the dangers of therapists who blur the lines of client/therapist boundaries. She explains the common tactics that narcissistic therapists often employ and the damage that they can cause to their clients.
If you have experienced an unhealthy relationship with a therapist and would like to be in touch, Jonathan has kindly offered to communicate with you via email to provide insight from his experience in order to help others heal. You can reach out to him at: connectwithjonathan2021@gmail.com
To hear more of Rachel's tips on how to recognize an unhealthy therapeutic relationship check out her video here:
https://youtu.be/EEBo_Z2VTqE
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