What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?
14.06.2025 01:38
Off the top of my ancient head:
Session-expressed curiosities about client details not relevant to the therapy.
Disclosing feelings, fantasies, and experiences to the client in ways not related to the work the client is engaged in.
These items can happen fleetingly, briefly, in any therapy, but if they’re frequent, it’s definitely time for the therapist to get some good, solid supervision/consultation.
Sense of competition with persons who are important in the client’s life.
Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.
Has your mother ever walked in on you at an inappropriate time?
Failing to mention the client in supervision/consultation, out of fear the supervisor/consultant will advise return to ordinary healthy boundaries.
Frequent phoning or texting of clients to “check up on them and make sure they’re OK.”
General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:
What is the most inappropriate thing your wife has done in front of you?
Routinely going over the time limit with certain patients, compromising the time for the next client.
Struggling with fantasies of deeper connections with clients, whether sexual or parental or other intense or intimate relationships beyond psychotherapy.
Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.
Can you share any "backstage pass" experiences you have had at concerts?
Eager anticipation (or anxious anticipation) of the next session in ways that distract.