What are the conditions for a client to successfully claim malpractice against a psychologist?

A client can successfully claim malpractice against a psychologist by establishing that a professional relationship existed and demonstrating a breach of the standard of care. This means the client must show that the psychologist had a duty to provide care to the client and that the psychologist failed to meet the accepted standards of practice within the profession, resulting in harm to the client.

The existence of a professional relationship is crucial, as it creates a duty of care. Once that relationship is established, the client must provide evidence that the psychologist did not adhere to the expected level of care, which can include actions such as misdiagnosing a condition, providing inappropriate treatment, or failing to obtain informed consent. If these elements are present, the client can argue that the breach of care directly led to harm or adverse outcomes, fulfilling the criteria necessary for a malpractice claim.