How Therapist Abuse Starts: The First 10 Red Flags I Missed

You’ll miss the signs when they come wrapped in therapy language.

They don't start by threatening you. They start by becoming your favorite person in the world.

When therapist abuse begins, it doesn't feel like abuse. It feels like safety. Connection. Relief. A voice that finally understands you. A lifeline.

And that's what makes it so fucking dangerous.

By the time you realize what's happening, you're already isolated. Financially entangled. Emotionally dependent. Confused. And most of all—you blame yourself.

So if you're still in it, or still recovering from it, here are the red flags I missed.

These aren't hypotheticals. These are facts I lived through. And they could save you years of recovery.

1. They Make You Feel Like You're Their Favorite Client

What it looks like: They give you extra time. Tell you you're brilliant or insightful. Comment on how you're different from other clients. Suggest you have special potential despite your trauma. They might even label you their "most high-risk patient," creating both fear and a sense of specialness.

What's re…