To think it’s a crime to pretend to be a registered doctor?

[Domino34]

Keep this short and sweet, please help me out!
I discovered that the ‘psychotherapist’ that ‘works for the nhs’ I’ve been having therapy sessions on the phone with, was actually not a doctor at all. Payed for by DH. I think I’ve been a victim of coercive control. Yet another tactic to manipulate me and be in a position of power. It sounds crazy, I know! My question is, is it a crime in the same way where if somebody pretended to be a police officer? I feel like my mind has been violated. I haven’t done anything about this. . . What can I do?

Yes this is what has happened, I’m still trying to make sense of it myself. When I started asking to see the ‘doctors’ license number, I got sent some bogus qualifications in a totally different name to what she was calling herself. I’ve already done the research. There never was a counsellor/therapist/doctor whatever you call it. I can appreciate how crazy this all sounds but I can assure you I am of a sound mind.

Go to the police.

Report your ex for coercive control, and report the woman for conspiracy.

Enforce his rights as a father.

This reinforces my feeling he could be an abduction risk to your child. I know it seems far fetched, but I have been involved in an incident where a father took his child from the mother while they were out shopping. The police arrived in time but the plan had been to take her to his home country.

Please log your concerns with the police today. Especially as you have suspicions he is back in the country.

It is not coercive control. That has a very speck legal definition. However, it does seem to be misrepresentation of their credentials, which is arguably a kind of fraud.

I’m not sure what to advise you then, other than to speak to a women’s domestic abuse service and take their advice on whether/how you should report your husband? If you have some evidence, it might be worth calling to speak to the police, there will have a domestic violence team, to discuss the fact that this suggests you are in danger? The National Domestic Abuse Helpine may also be able to help? 0808 2000 247

Something not dissimilar happened to a school friend’s mother decades ago, with an Asian father seeking to control and harm his wife (claimed she was mentally unstable and then used his evidence to keep her trapped in her home in Pakistan, bare foot, no money with my friend who was an infant - mum escaped over a wall and got to the British Consulate)… so I know this is a tactic used by some men of certain cultures (my dad is Iranian, so I promise I am not being racist in any way, just drawing on an anecdote).

The OP’s ex got a drug addict to pretend to be a therapist to gain access to their child. You need to read the OP’s subsequent posts.

However, if you are accusing your husband of coercive control, then possibly. You would need legal advice. You need to have evidence of financial control, control over your freedom of association, mental, verbal and or physical abuse etc.

The first paragraph is exactly how I feel. I have a family to protect.

Domino The first para is why I've laid out for you what is suspicion (regardless of if with good cause or not) and what is fact.
It's hard to see at the time, but the best way to protect your family from people like him, is to 'appear' to be unafraid of telling.

If I'm right about what he is, he will target those who can be isolated from others, have lower support networks, difficult backgrounds and families, self esteem issues, who don't expect to be believed, and have a sense of needing to hide, or cover up things.

They don't generally target the sort of females whose parents are on hand and likely to step in, or who will automatically go to the police.

When they do accidentally encounter these sorts of females, they find them too difficult to manage, and go find easier prey.

It took me years to understand that my best course of action was to fight fire with much bigger fire, very publicly, not try and put it out, cover it up, not upset him, or escape it. But by then things had seriously escalated for me and my DC's.

I spent 2/3rds of a lifetime looking over my shoulder, my advice is not to do the same.

Yes, report to the police.

Just be absolutely factual with what you tell them. Don't speculate on your XHs relationship to this woman (her being OW) or her being a 'known drug addict'. That's not a proven fact, 'everyone locally says she uses drugs' could translate to 'she behaves oddly and erratically and keeps bad company'. She could be mentally ill and under the sway of your XH who could be telling her anything.

The facts of what they are doing to you is horrific enough, without wandering off into what 'might be'.

I’m so sorry this has happened to you. I wonder what was in it for her? Was she sleeping with him or did he pay her? Did you pay her? There must be a money trail or something. I would contact the police about her AND show them the messages from ex.

Please also contact Social Care. I know involving social services worries most people but they can support you by taking mediating / ensuring safety planning and working with you ans women's aid to get necessary legal orders /restrictions in place to ensure ypur child's safety. They can also liaise with school /nursery if ypur child attends. If they do go to some provision I would let them know immediately about your concerns as as it stands, if he is on birth certificate you have 50/50 equal right and without some reason /professional input it is very difficult for childcare provision or school to stop him collecting your child.

Please let me know if I can assist you or direct you into navigating this situation to.ensure you get the right support

• if you are concerned that your child or children may be abducted abroad by their other parent or another family member contact a suitably qualified family lawyer. A lawyer may be able to apply for a Child Arrangements or other Order to stop your child being taken out of the country. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you may also be able to apply to have your child made a ‘ward of court’ through a Wardship Order. This means the court becomes a legal guardian of your child and can decide what is in the child’s best interests
• contact the Passport Office (HMPO) because you may be able to stop your child obtaining a British passport without your permission. You will usually need a court order to do this
• if your child’s other parent holds a different nationality, contact that country’s embassy, high commission or consulate in the UK. You or your lawyer should write to that embassy, high commission or consulate and ask them not to issue a passport to your child, if the other parent makes an application. They do not have to do agree to do this, but they may do so voluntarily
• ask your local police to issue a ‘Port Alert’ if your child is likely to be taken abroad (within 48 hours) without the consent of all of those with parental responsibility. A Port Alert means the police can contact the National Border Targeting Centre to alert all UK points of departure and try to prevent an abduction. It is active for 28 days, allowing you to seek legal advice if you have not already done so. You will need a court order to extend it beyond this time. For a Port Alert in Scotland, there are separate procedures including a requirement for a court order to be in place.
• contact Reunite International Child Abduction Centre, a charity providing practical advice and support to parents and families whose children have been, or might be abducted or wrongfully retained overseas

Excellent PSA! MNHQ Should collate this into an info page@mnhq

Please update us op. Did you go to the police? Women's aid? I hope you haven't just taken him back? Please don't be scared of being on your own with a baby. You need this abusive man out of your life