Some of this has been said, but I thought I would fill in the holes here.

This depends entirely upon what the "therapeutic" nature of LW's job was and if it was regulated by the state they are in and what the ethics and state statutes say. But if the LW was a therapist as in psychologist, psychotherapist, social worker, etc. and/or this person was a patient or client of the LW, the LW probably has only one recourse and that is to quit. Actually, the LW should have quit by now. Unfortunately. This falls under "dual relationship" ethics violations of just about any mental health profession, even though this person is no longer practicing. Now there is a time limit to some of this, so the LW should check with the state mental health board itself. But the LW is at great risk legally by staying regardless. Any disclosure of previous relationship with the person to anyone runs the risk of violation by the LW of confidentiality that binds all professional counselors/therapists.

Sorry, Tarasoff does not apply in this case. LW can only report if the person says to them or shows intent thereof "I'm now going to or I have a plan to kill so and so", "I am now going to or have a plan to kill myself", "I'm now going to or have a plan to beat up/rape so and so", suspicion of child physical abuse or sexual abuse, suspicion of elder abuse or any INTENT to PHYSICALLY HARM another person. Current criminal activities including selling drugs, burglary, etc. whatever DO NOT APPLY, except once again child abuse or elder abuse of any kind, past or present. The therapist cannot "acknowledge or even deny" that they have/had a therapeutic relationship with the patient/client to anyone (except for certain conditions that vary within the profession and state) without written consent from the patient/client or a court order. The only time this would POSSIBLY not apply is if the person the LW is working with is a repeat sexual offender, especially child abuse, but I would think that the employer would have done a background check and know this already. But even this is risky and could fall under breaking confidentially. BTW, if LW breaks confidentiality "unethically", they run the risk of jail time, legal conviction and being sued by this person AND the state. Being a therapist, all my clients sign a "disclosure form" of confidentiality which states the conditions by which confidentiality is kept and can be broken. This often varies state to state, so LW, once again, should check with the state they are in and the ethics board of the profession they were in.

And, yeah, for all those people who think therapists make great money, starting salary is often 20K to 30K a year with a Masters, even in private practice. It's a little better for PhD's. But not much. So, many, many therapists have to give it up and go back to the corporate world just to survive.

Yes, this sucks for LW. But, it's the choice one makes to be a therapist even after one has decided to not be therapist any longer. It's a tough, tough profession. Personally, there is a great satisfaction to it in seeing people survive, bloom and move on from their troubles. But I often fantasize about doing something else because of the money and because of the constant ethical walking-on-eggshells dilemma.

I liked your listing the numbers of suns, galaxies, etc. in the universe. But I don't see how that proves there isn't a God. There's a logic in there somewhere? A hidden dissertation? You know, it could be quite the opposite. Maybe THAT'S God for some people. And in you "cut and dried, nuts and bolts" view, how do you explain eternity? Can you add that up? Even if the universe ends, what comes after that? Does everything end and there is...nothing? Explain that. How is there no existence? Nada. Zip. Especially after there was an existence! And who would know that? And why does God have to fit into some primitive he, she or it thing view? Couldn't the mystery of the universe be God in a more profound way?

And speaking of piddling. Isn't your piddling on those who believe the same as those who insist we must all believe or go to hell? Oh, you've had it with humoring those who believe in something, that's right. So, watcha goin' to do about it? Really? Make us....?

And what if a thousand or more years down the road (hopefully, we last that long), we find out that how we thought the world, universe and life was, that logical, scientific, absolute, concrete, "cut and dried, nut and bolts" view, is just bullshit primitive thinking and that things are not what they appear to be...scientifically that is? Maybe things are far more complex. I'm not talking new age lala land positive thinking stuff here. I'm not talking God of the Bible or anything else as we know it. Just that...we don't know it all yet. And I don't think there is any way for us EVER to know it all. Can you imagine...knowing it ALL?

And, just an interesting question here, something to contemplate in all your numbers, why does one need the number 2 to explain the number 1?

And kudo's to Opus and Burke for questioning and breaking the taboo. As always, Opus rocks!

Maybe you need to the right side of the screen as well as the left. And pardon my terrible mistake, er...taboo, "kudo's". I'm so very sorry. Please do forgive me. Really.