Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Many people believe the false notion that seeking help means you’re weak. On the contrary, during my years of practice, some of the strongest people I have ever met have been during my psychotherapy sessions.

As a psychotherapist with 20 years of practice (now in Toronto, Ontario), I have come across a broad range of issues people face. While most cases have nothing in common, what ties all these matters together is the fact that psychotherapy can help irrespective of how helpless or hopeless you feel.

Keep reading to learn about how Jennifer Kaplan, M.S., R.S.W. helped a survivor of sexual harassment at work.

The Challenge: Dealing with a sexual harasser at work.

I was approached by a client who was having a miserable time at the office. She was actually on the career path she wanted. She enjoyed her job and was excelling at her work. However, this dream job quickly turned nightmarish after she became the object of a sexually inappropriate manager at her place of work.

Soon she became overwhelmed with feelings that she could not manage. She struggled to find the motivation to pursue her career goals and was beginning to feel despondent and desperate. When she approached me she had little faith that psychotherapy would work. But after our initial consult she felt seen and heard and was willing to give therapy a try. She wanted to save and salvage her valuable career. And she did not want to lose her job.

The Solution: talking through the problem until she felt strong enough to enact the solution.

Based on my understanding of the situation and the predicament she found herself in, I began working towards changing my client’s mindset. My client didn’t believe anything she did would change her work environment. I understood because change can seem impossibly difficult when faced alone and without tools.

Over the course of six months and with regular sessions, I helped her reason things out like a compassionate but knowledgeable friend, and get to the bottom of what was holding her back from tackling the issue she faced at the office. I helped her see that she was in the position of power because his behavior was illegal. Once we had some answers, we worked on boosting her confidence and self-esteem.

Although it took around six months, my client was then confident and comfortable with the language she would have to use to address this issue and get ready for the confrontations at work. She also successfully learned how to deal with the feelings and emotions that the harassment had wrought. She was stronger than she had ever been

As an experienced psychotherapist, I work through problems until we come to a solution together. Then we work the solution until you, my client, don’t need me anymore.

I work with adolescents and adults, couples and families. I also run groups. My interests are in practical approaches to changing habits that no longer serve my client’s stated goals. I do this through an insight-based narrative approach which may incorporate Behavior Modification Techniques. I will also guide you through the work based on what parts of your life you feel the need to change.

To get started, get in touch with me by clicking here. To learn more about how Jennifer Kaplan, M.S., R.S.W. can help you, please click here. Alternatively, to read what my clients are saying about me, please click here.