What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?
11.06.2025 01:12
Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.
Disclosing feelings, fantasies, and experiences to the client in ways not related to the work the client is engaged in.
Frequent phoning or texting of clients to “check up on them and make sure they’re OK.”
How good do you sing and how do you know this?
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.
Struggling with fantasies of deeper connections with clients, whether sexual or parental or other intense or intimate relationships beyond psychotherapy.
Sense of competition with persons who are important in the client’s life.
What does it feel like to "lose your looks" to age?
Session-expressed curiosities about client details not relevant to the therapy.
Off the top of my ancient head:
Routinely going over the time limit with certain patients, compromising the time for the next client.
Are you worried that the 2024 US presidential election will result in a close race?
Failing to mention the client in supervision/consultation, out of fear the supervisor/consultant will advise return to ordinary healthy boundaries.
Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.
General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:
Have you ever accidentally seen your mother-in-law doing something that was private to her?
Eager anticipation (or anxious anticipation) of the next session in ways that distract.