From inappropriate behaviour to encouraging patients to stop medication, reckless therapists can cause real damage

• Government urged to regulate psychotherapists and counsellors

When Karin Blak’s troubled marriage ended, she was recommended a therapist by a friend. But she grew increasingly uncomfortable as he made inappropriate personal disclosures, including around his sexual health, touched her and invited her into his home.

It later emerged that although he was a practising psychotherapist with other clients, he was unqualified, having dropped out of his psychotherapy course “because he didn’t want to adhere to the rules”. The bad experience culminated with him touching her and telling her: “If I was 10 years younger, I’d be sitting next to you by now”.