Therapy Abuse Email Support List FAQ

The Therapy Abuse Support List is an electronic peer support discussion list open to men and women alike. It provides a place where therapy abuse survivors can share their stories, and give/receive support to/from one another.
WHAT IS THE LIST ABOUT? The nature of Therapy Abuse, often leaves survivors feeling more isolated than ever. The TAS email support list will hopefully offer a place where survivors can give and receive support to and from one another. WHO PARTICIPATES ON THE LIST? Anyone, male or female, who has been abused in psychotherapy or counseling - whether it be by a pastor, doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, lay counsellor, or other such therapist. DOES THE LIST OFFER "COUNSELING" OR "ADVICE"? No. This is a "peer" list. Everyone participates as an equal. No one can tell you how to heal or what to do or feel. All we each can do is speak for and of ourselves in the hopes that in doing so we share something that benefits another. WHAT ABOUT SELF-HARM TALK? If you feel suicidal or tempted to self-harm, you are encouraged to talk about your feelings. That said, there is a level of personal responsibility expected of each participant. List members may offer support and empathy, but ultimately you are responsible for your own actions. If you are actively engaging in self-harm behaviour (or about to) this list is no substitute for appropriate professional support and/or intervention. WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE THERAPY ABUSE SUPPORT LIST? TAS is a supportive list, as such flames and other disruptive posts are not tolerated. This doesn't mean that you have to agree with everything that is said on the list. It is okay to differ in opinion and state what fits for "you". It is not okay to flame or attack other participants, their beliefs, opinions, choices or feelings. WHAT ABOUT PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY? Unfortunately, there is no way to ensure absolute confidentiality with this medium. (At this time the list is not set up to handle PGP, or other such encryption methods.) However, we can all take steps to increase list security: On the administrative level, I assure you that the distribution list itself remains confidential. It is maintained on my home computer and is password protected. If you wish, you may choose to participate on the list via any anonymous email server that allows you to send and receive email from/to your anon address. Each member is required to maintain list confidentiality. This means not sharing any information shared on-list off-list. Breaking confidentiality will result in removal from the list. HOW DOES THE LIST ACTUALLY WORK? A 'filter' has been set up to take all mail addressed to the list and distribute it to all list members. When you post a message to the list, your originating email address stays with the message, and becomes the default "reply to:" address. Therefore, (when you post) your id is visible to the other list members. This is in part, why we strictly enforce a confidentiality requirement. HOW DO I JOIN? If you feel you can abide by this FAQ, Email me. Put the keywords "Subscribe TAS" in the subject line. You will hear back from me with posting instructions. FAQ Last Updated: January 2005

The Therapy Abuse Support List is an electronic peer support discussion list open to men and women alike. It provides a place where therapy abuse survivors can share their stories, and give/receive support to/from one another.

WHAT IS THE LIST ABOUT? The nature of Therapy Abuse, often leaves survivors feeling more isolated than ever. The TAS email support list will hopefully offer a place where survivors can give and receive support to and from one another.

WHO PARTICIPATES ON THE LIST? Anyone, male or female, who has been abused in psychotherapy or counseling - whether it be by a pastor, doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, lay counsellor, or other such therapist.

DOES THE LIST OFFER "COUNSELING" OR "ADVICE"? No. This is a "peer" list. Everyone participates as an equal. No one can tell you how to heal or what to do or feel. All we each can do is speak for and of ourselves in the hopes that in doing so we share something that benefits another.

WHAT ABOUT SELF-HARM TALK? If you feel suicidal or tempted to self-harm, you are encouraged to talk about your feelings. That said, there is a level of personal responsibility expected of each participant. List members may offer support and empathy, but ultimately you are responsible for your own actions. If you are actively engaging in self-harm behaviour (or about to) this list is no substitute for appropriate professional support and/or intervention.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE THERAPY ABUSE SUPPORT LIST? TAS is a supportive list, as such flames and other disruptive posts are not tolerated. This doesn't mean that you have to agree with everything that is said on the list. It is okay to differ in opinion and state what fits for "you". It is not okay to flame or attack other participants, their beliefs, opinions, choices or feelings.

WHAT ABOUT PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY? Unfortunately, there is no way to ensure absolute confidentiality with this medium. (At this time the list is not set up to handle PGP, or other such encryption methods.) However, we can all take steps to increase list security:

On the administrative level, I assure you that the distribution list itself remains confidential. It is maintained on my home computer and is password protected.
If you wish, you may choose to participate on the list via any anonymous email server that allows you to send and receive email from/to your anon address.
Each member is required to maintain list confidentiality. This means not sharing any information shared on-list off-list. Breaking confidentiality will result in removal from the list.

HOW DOES THE LIST ACTUALLY WORK? A 'filter' has been set up to take all mail addressed to the list and distribute it to all list members. When you post a message to the list, your originating email address stays with the message, and becomes the default "reply to:" address. Therefore, (when you post) your id is visible to the other list members. This is in part, why we strictly enforce a confidentiality requirement.

HOW DO I JOIN? If you feel you can abide by this FAQ, Email me. Put the keywords "Subscribe TAS" in the subject line. You will hear back from me with posting instructions.

FAQ Last Updated: January 2005