Inside The Illegal Contract My Therapist Made Me Sign — And The Psychological Prison She Built Around It

When most people think of abuse, they think of screaming. Violence. Maybe silence.

They don't think of clauses. They don't think of legalese. They don't think of contracts.

But mine came in the form of signatures, amendments, and a six-figure transfer schedule — all signed while I was psychologically dismantled by the very person who claimed she was protecting me.

My therapist didn't just cross a line. She turned my trauma into leverage. And then she put it in writing.

The Setup: "Protection" as a Trojan Horse

I had just been fired and my sobriety felt like it was in a fragile state. I was questioning everything about myself and fighting a wrongful termination case that was draining my finances.

That's when my therapist — E.D. — told me I was in danger.

She claimed I was being stalked by my exes. She said R.N. and M.M. were targeting both of us: hacking our accounts, filing complaints to her licensing board, sending threatening letters, trying to ruin our lives. She said she was working with a "reputation management firm" with people named Cav, Kai, and Hayden to protect me. She told me the attacks could ruin my FINRA arbitration case. That I'd never work in finance again.

At first, I didn't believe what E.D. was telling me. For months, I begged her to prove it to me. The threats seemed far-fetched, the connections between my exes implausible. But she was relentless. For months leading up to February, she wouldn't let up — every fucking day with new "evidence," new threats, new reasons to be afraid. She bombarded me with texts at all hours, emergency sessions, and dire warnings until my skepticism crumbled under the sheer weight of her persistence. I was already vulnerable, and she knew exactly how to exploit that.

And then she said this:

"We just need to get everything clear. A written agreement, so you're protected. So I'm protected. So they can't get to us."

What she handed me was a 22-clause contract that dictated every aspect of my existence:

• Who I could talk to

• Who I could date (no one until June 2026)

• What I could post online

• Whether I could ask questions about her claims

• How much money I owed her

• Where I had to leave my electronic devices when visiting her house

• When I had to pay her — down to the date, the amount, and the transfer method

I was told if I didn't sign, these "threats" would destroy my arbitration case, my licenses, my career, and my life.

As a recovering alcoholic who had just lost his job, I was the perfect target. I signed it.

What Was In The Original Contract (And What It Was Really For)

The first contract, which she called the "Agreement," weaponized my recovery and completely isolated me:

Clause 1-4: Complete Erasure of R.N. "Have no contact on a permanent basis with R.N... Participate in life in a manner that indicates having no knowledge of or having a past relationship with R.N... Avoid engaging in 'what if' thinking... Second Party has indicated deleting all communications, pictures, videos, and other reminders of R.N."

Reality: She didn't just want me to stop contact with R.N. — she wanted me to erase any evidence this person existed in my life.

Clause 5-8: Systematic Isolation "Have no contact on a permanent basis with N.N... K.M... A.M... any former romantic/sexual/other relationship that a reasonable person could identify as a non-platonic relationship with the exception of Second Party's friend identified as R."

Reality: She methodically cut off every meaningful relationship in my life, one by one, all while claiming they were "harmful" to my recovery.

Clause 9-10: Digital Blackout "Second Party will deactivate all current social media accounts. He will not reactivate and will not create any new social media accounts until all provisions of this agreement requiring any form of contact with First Party have been completed. Second Party will delete all current dating service or app profile..."

Reality: She cut off my ability to reach out for help or different perspectives.

Clause 11: Romantic Prohibition "Second Party will abstain from any behavior that a reasonable person could consider to be associated with dating, the exception being one-time encounters without the exchange of information for ongoing contact."

Reality: She controlled my most intimate life choices while claiming it prevented "psychological abuse" toward her. The one exception being meaningless hookups I couldn't follow up with.

Clause 13-14: Forced Self-Blame "Hold self-accountable for all actions taken that have caused harm and how inaction has caused harm on others... Steps to this will include but are not limited to: keeping and reviewing a written list of these actions/inactions, journaling, acknowledging and accepting reality as it is without distortion, listen to things others are saying without a defensive or 'victim' mentality, working to forgive self. Act in ways that are demonstrative of item 13."

Reality: I was required to maintain a written record of my "wrongdoings" while being forbidden from having a "victim mentality" — even as I was being victimized.

Clause 15-16: Emotion Policing "Actively regulate emotions when interacting with First Party... avoiding lashing out in anger, will not use a loud, aggressive, assaultive, accusatory tone... Communicate/interact with First Party without the use of manipulation, gaslighting, lying, dishonesty..."

Reality: Any emotion I expressed was labeled as "dysregulated anger" while she could manipulate me freely.

Clause 17: Total Surveillance "Provides ongoing consent to have electronic devices monitored with or without notice for compliance with any of the provisions of this document."

Reality: She took my laptop and "did something with the VPN," likely installing monitoring software.

Clause 18-19: Structured Financial Extraction "Reimburse Party One for agreed portion of Legal Fees tendered up to agreed upon date in December 2023 at amount of $100,000 according to following schedule... payments of no more than $9,000 per transfer... Reimburse Party One for half of Fees associated with Retained Firm's involvement and intervention from 2/5/2024 to present- $4,349.67."

Reality: She structured payments under $10,000 to avoid mandatory IRS reporting requirements — a federal crime called "structuring" — while charging me for "protection" from threats she fabricated.

Clause 20-22: Enforced Silence with Punishment Clause "Refrain from speaking of Party One to anyone that Party One has authorized explicitly through written permission until 5/1/2025... Take no further action that would be detrimental to Party One's career or reputation... Recognition and consent that should any of the prior items be violated, Party One is empowered to nullify the entirety of the provisions..."

Reality: I was gagged from speaking about her while she reserved the right to completely change the terms if I "violated" any provision.

The Amendment That Tightened The Noose

When I began questioning aspects of the agreement months later, instead of releasing me, she created an "amendment" with even more restrictive terms:

Amendment Clause 2: Extended Dating Ban "Party Two will refrain from entering into any relationships that would be considered by a reasonable person to qualify as romantic or contain a dating element in any manner until minimally 6/1/2026."

Reality: She extended control over my romantic life for years while adding that I needed her permission to date even after that time.

Amendment Clause 3: Relapse Setup "Should Party Two's substance abuse become problematic... Party Two agrees to enter a minimal 30-day inpatient rehab program."

Reality: Despite five years of sobriety, she planted the expectation of failure while ensuring any relapse would trigger even more financial obligations and control.

Amendment Clause 4: Destroy Evidence "If Party Two is contacted by a former romantic partner... Party Two will capture evidence, put in all precautions to prevent further contact, and notify Party One immediately. Party Two will immediately permanently destroy all evidence of the communication."

Reality: She ensured I could never accumulate proof of her fabrications while forcing me to report any contact instantly.

Amendment Clause 7-9: Enforced Silence "Party Two will henceforth refrain from initiating a conversation about the events that lead to this agreement... Party Two will refrain from making demands for proof of anything related to this agreement."

Reality: I was contractually forbidden from questioning her claims or demanding evidence of the "threats" she cited.

Amendment Clause 10-11: "Gaslighting Protocol" "Party Two will communicate with Party One without employing gaslighting... If Party Two becomes triggered during any conversation with Party One, Party Two will immediately notify Party One that they are triggered and need to remove themselves."

Reality: Any emotional reaction to her manipulation was preemptively labeled as my mental health issue, not her abuse.

Amendment Clause 12: Pay to Ask Questions "If Party Two needs to seek clarification on execution of this agreement, Party Two will send questions to Party One for Party One to disseminate as appropriate. Party One will provide the effective response to Party Two who will comply. Any financial burden of this is the sole responsibility of Party Two who will pay it to Party One within 15 calendar days."

Reality: I had to pay her to ask questions about the contract that was already draining my finances.

Amendment Clause 13: Electronics Confiscation "Party Two will leave their cell phone, laptop, and all other electronic devices in their car when at Party One's house unless they obtain specific, clear consent from Party One to do otherwise."

Reality: I couldn't even document our interactions or seek outside help during our meetings.

Amendment Clause 14: Financial Death Switch "If Party Two violates any portion of the agreement, they must immediately pay the remaining unreimbursed balance of $54,349.67... Party Two will have 72 hours to obtain the money from his 401k."

Reality: She created a financial death-switch to prevent me from questioning anything.

Amendment Clause 15: Structured Payments "Party Two has so far reimbursed Party One the sum of $50,000. Remaining total balance from initial agreement is $54,349.67... $31,849.67 to be paid between 6/1/2024 and 7/31/2024. Installments should be equally dispersed over the period of time indicated and none being more than $9000 per transfer."

Reality: She continued the pattern of structuring payments under $10,000 to avoid IRS detection.

Amendment Clause 16: Pay for the Privilege of Further Control "Party Two will reimburse Party One for the fees that were generated in creating this amendment as it is being done for the sole benefit of Party Two. In sum, they total $9,601.02."

Reality: I had to pay her nearly $10,000 just for the "privilege" of signing an even more restrictive amendment.

Amendment Clause 17-18: Lifetime Revenue Stream "Upon obtaining employment in the Financial Services Industry at a level equal to his last job at Fidelity or higher, Party Two will begin investing $100 a month into a UTMA account that is owned by Party One with Party One's minor child B.E.S. as the beneficiary until B.E.S. turns 18. Party Two will also commit to giving 5% of his income from his financial career annual income to Party One with no cap."

Reality: She was securing lifelong payments by exploiting my career expertise for her child's benefit.

Amendment Clause 20: No Legal Protection "Party Two is agreeing to utilize the representatives retained by Party One in keeping with the terms of the Non-Disclosure Agreement and therefore waives his right to independent Counsel or Representation."

Reality: She ensured I had no legal protection while signing away my financial future.

The most disturbing part? She even created an "Appendix A" with mandatory rules for how I must respond if I felt she was gaslighting me:

"a. Party Two will acknowledge and validate Party One's feelings and experiences, even if they differ from Party Two's perspective instead of being defensive. b. Party Two will refrain from dismissing, minimizing, or denying Party One's concerns or recollections of events. c. Party Two will not attempt to rewrite history or present alternative narratives that contradict Party One's experiences."

Reality: I was contractually required to acknowledge, validate, and accept her version of reality — even when it was false.

The Truth Behind The "Threats"

Over five months, I paid E.D. $125,722.86 via Zelle transfers and checks to protect myself from "threats" that I later discovered were entirely fabricated.

A licensed private investigator's report revealed:

• The "reputation management firm" with Cav, Kai, and Hayden doesn't exist. When I repeatedly asked to speak with them, she always had excuses.

• E.D. had a checking account balance of just $371 (March 2025) despite receiving over $125,000 from me. The money simply vanished.

• The threatening letter supposedly from R.N. came from an address tied to M.M.'s family restaurant in NYC.

• The VOIP phone numbers sending anonymous threats were traced to NYC and Chicago, locations connected to the people she claimed were "targeting" us.

• No complaints had ever been filed against E.D.'s license as she had claimed.

• She lied about having a research license that she claimed I made her lose.

• She fabricated letters from my exes to her licensing board that never existed.

When I tried to demand proof of these threats, she cited Contract Clause 9: "Party Two will refrain from making demands for proof of anything related to this agreement."

This wasn't protection. It was psychological entrapment backed by legally formatted extortion.

The Cost Was More Than Money

The contracts ultimately cost me over $125,000 in direct payments. I had to withdraw from my 401k, drain my savings, and forward a large portion of my monthly income.

But the real cost was to my mental health and recovery:

• I was isolated from every support person in my life

• I was gaslighted into believing dangerous people were after me

• I was financially drained and legally compromised

• I was manipulated into believing my alcoholism was tied to dating

• I was told I was her "most high-risk patient" to keep me dependent

• I was given a laptop with monitoring software to track my every move

• I nearly relapsed after five years of sobriety when the truth began to emerge

This Is Called "Coercive Contracting"

When someone creates fear, isolation, and dependency — and then says "I need you to sign this so we're both safe" — that's not help. That's control.

Especially when:

• You're in a vulnerable emotional state (recently fired, in recovery)

• The power imbalance is built-in (client–therapist)

• The threat of career destruction is used to force compliance

• Legal, financial, and social freedom is being handed to one person

• Payment structures are designed to evade federal reporting requirements

Why I Didn't See It — And Why Most People Don't

Because the contract was framed as "support" and "protection." Because she used "therapy language" like "triggers" and "addiction." Because I believed she cared after five years of therapy. Because I was terrified, and she seemed to be the only one who could help. Because my alcoholism recovery made me trust anyone who promised stability. Because each time I tried to question her, she cited clauses that prevented me from doing so.

Final Word

She didn't just blur boundaries. She redrew them around me — like a prison cell I paid for.

This wasn't a one-time ethical failure. This was a carefully orchestrated strategy. Built. Written. Enforced. And updated as she gained more control.

I signed under duress. But I never consented to be destroyed.

And now, I'm telling the truth. Line by line. Page by page.

Because the first step in healing from therapeutic abuse is naming exactly what happened—not just for myself, but for anyone still trapped in a contract they never should have been asked to sign.

To be vulnerable to my readers and show them a piece of the abuse, I will upload the amended agreement below.

— Cody Taymore

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