When Yes Isn’t Consent: Unpacking Coercion, Power, and Therapy Abuse

TRIGGER WARNING: Talk about Therapy Abuse, Sexual assault, and what is consent. Some of this material may be very difficult and we ask that you do what you need to take care of yourself in this hours.


In this episode of Re-Threading Madness, we take a deeper look at consent between adults in the context of therapy abuse and ask a difficult but necessary question: when is a “yes” not “yes”?It can feel like we’ve only just arrived at the clarity of “no means no.” In this program, we ask you to stretch your thinking further and consider how power/authority over, dependency, and coercion can shape a “yes” that isn’t freely given. It may seem like a lot to hold at first, but by the end of this episode, the importance of this distinction becomes clear.Through survivor testimony and expert insight, we explore how grooming, transference, and emotional reliance can blur the boundaries of consent within therapeutic relationships. We also examine BC’s new Health Profession and Occupation Act, including its latest revisions around what protections it may offer, where it remains unclear, and how the absence of a clear definition of consent continues to create risk.Additionally, we unpack the ongoing concerns around the 2–3 year post-termination clause adopted by some professional associations, which allows for intimate relationships between therapists and former clients and the systemic vulnerabilities this creates.Featuring interviews with:

• Audrey Bedolis, lawyer specializing in psychotherapy malpractice
• Amy Avalon, retired therapist
• Amy Nordhues, survivor of therapy abuse

This episode challenges us to move beyond surface definitions and confront the realities of coercion, power imbalance, and institutional gaps around the therapist/client relationship while centering clarity, accountability, and survivor experience.Content note: This episode includes discussion of therapy abuse, sexual exploitation, and childhood trauma. Please engage in a way that supports your well-being.



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