What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?
13.06.2025 07:16
Failing to mention the client in supervision/consultation, out of fear the supervisor/consultant will advise return to ordinary healthy boundaries.
Struggling with fantasies of deeper connections with clients, whether sexual or parental or other intense or intimate relationships beyond psychotherapy.
Routinely going over the time limit with certain patients, compromising the time for the next client.
Frequent phoning or texting of clients to “check up on them and make sure they’re OK.”
Disclosing feelings, fantasies, and experiences to the client in ways not related to the work the client is engaged in.
Off the top of my ancient head:
Why do so many autistic adults deal with self-hatred?
Sense of competition with persons who are important in the client’s life.
Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.
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.
Why do men think I’m easy just by looking at me?
Session-expressed curiosities about client details not relevant to the therapy.
Eager anticipation (or anxious anticipation) of the next session in ways that distract.
General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:
Why do people who were very kind and loving once become cold-hearted?
Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.