I was laid off from an outpatient psychiatric clinic after 8 years because I was not cost-effective. After leaving, I was off for 5 months and then opened my own therapy clinic. Patients are now coming back to treatment with me and I'm hearing story after story of this supervisor completely "throwing me under the bus" to these psych patients who felt it was unprofessional, uncomfortable, (one said traumatizing), and very strange as he acted like a supporter of mine during my employment there.

This has got to stop. Is my new business hurting and individuals I thought would contact me have not. Is he affecting my business? I just want him to stop it. Is a cease and desist letter enough to scare him into stopping?

Did the clinic say you could take "your own" patients (the ones you were seeing) with you when you left and started your own practice?

Your degree is in what?

A cease and desist letter (from a lawyer) might be a good investment, but there's no way we or anyone can know if it will work.

Do you know exactly what was said? Since the patients returned to you, doesn't seem like much damage occurred.

When I worked/counseled at a clinic, the patients (including the ones I was seeing) all "belonged" to the clinic. When I left, I asked the clinic if I could "take" certain ones with me and had to justify that it was necessary for therapy continuity. The rest of "my" patients were assigned to new counselors.

Is that why you are having problems with your former supervisor -- the clinic thinks you "stole" the patients you are seeing?

I am a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He has said things like I was a drug dealer and incompetent. Mind you I wasn't fired, I was let go and never once penalized for my clinical care. I won NP of the year 2 years in a row.

My contract has no clause regarding patients. I think legally you cannot keep a patient (a psychiatric patient no less) from accessing care.

I know some people came back, but I had 225 people on my case load and only 6 have come back. What percentage are listening to this and not coming back?

He also I believe kept me from getting another job by bad mouthing me to a doctor that was going to hire me, but I can't prove it. I have patients willing to write declarations because they are so upset by his behavior.

If he told lies about you and you can prove it, then you have a case. Consult an attorney.