Anonymous
Tucson,#2Author of original report
Sat, December 17, 2011
Unfortunately, I know the consequences of molestation, rape, and domestic violence all too well. But, I also know that it is possible to overcome trauma. Sadly most of the progress that I have made has been in spite of the majority of therapists I have seen. Out of now more than 20 therapists, only three really took the time to see past acting out behaviors in youth and my anger and PTSD symptoms to realize my strengths and potential. These three would have probably been denied licensure by this board or vilified for over-identifying or failing to hold me accountable.
The others, meanwhile, would be regarded as having strong boundaries and clarity. It is so backwards.
I have been fighting with the Board for 7 years to convince them that I can help people, not in spite of my past, but because of it. Not only have I learned to cope with PTSD symptoms and re-structure my personality through CBT and DBT, but I have endured the experience of being among colleagues and supervisors who make pejorative statements about women like myself every day, or about children and teens they say will never make it, when I did, not realizing that one of them is sitting right across the table.
When I have disclosed my past to supervisors, and tried to correct the erroneous view that survivors like myself can change, they had used it against me. They have sexually harassed me, engaged me in the unprofessional conduct, and coerced me into concealing evidence of their part in unprofessional acts.
I have taken on the full blame for everything, in fear of the board finding out about my history, finally leading to revocation of my license, and anticipated termination of employment, loss of custody of my child to a dangerous father, and financial ruin.
I have been made by my supervisors, and by the board for colluding with them, to keep my history trauma and addictions a secret, terrified and ashamed when I should be proud of my survival. This has brought back and deepened the shame and self-loathing that I had once conquered, made me more vulnerable to self sabatoging acts, and turned, my PTSD into complex PTSD, by adding severe and life long consequences to my traumatic history. So, in the end, it was a self fulfilling prophesies for Debra Riunado.
She seems to have viewed me as Borderline and engaged in 7 years of investigation to prove it, rather than recognizing that she has and still is colluding with sex offenders-people who supervise vulnerable women, get them to share our personal lives, and then threaten to tell her about it if we fail to engage unprofessional conduct and sexual relationships with them.
I have been so re-victimized by Debra Riunado that it seems she has made her allegations true. This last round has sent me over the edge. All I want to do now is die. And, if it werent for my daughter, I would have killed myself rather than reaching out for help yesterday.
As a representative of the mental health and recovery movement, she could have helped me to be an example as a survivor, struggling to turn my life around and live it mindfully. She could have recognized that, in spite of everything I have been going through, I have managed to enhance my profession by building collaborative efforts and evidence based programs, achieving a 97% success rate in preventing recidivism and relapse, and receiving many thanks from people whom have achieved long term sobriety and non violence in thier lives. But instead she has reinforced the stigma that people with a history such as mine are just permanently damaged goods; impaired, unprofessional unethical and beyond repair.
Flynrider
Phoenix,#3Consumer Comment
Wed, December 14, 2011
"Despite having been molested, raped, beaten, and publically humiliated on several occasions by the board, I am more mentally healthy than most people I know. "
It seems that you take terms like rape and molestation pretty lightly for someone in your line of work. Are you sure you want to go that route? Your conclusion is not supported by your premise.