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What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?

14.06.2025 01:32

What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

Eager anticipation (or anxious anticipation) of the next session in ways that distract.

Struggling with fantasies of deeper connections with clients, whether sexual or parental or other intense or intimate relationships beyond psychotherapy.

Isn't it ironic people always talk about how much women hate Donald Trump, when almost any of them would marry him if they could? What he said in the 2005 Billy Bush video, almost every woman would share the sentiment if it got them his lifestyle.

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

Sense of competition with persons who are important in the client’s life.

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

Why are conservatives banning liberal books? Why are conservatives so offended by the teaching of racism and other topics?

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.

Disclosing feelings, fantasies, and experiences to the client in ways not related to the work the client is engaged in.

Session-expressed curiosities about client details not relevant to the therapy.

How can I fall asleep fast at night?

Failing to mention the client in supervision/consultation, out of fear the supervisor/consultant will advise return to ordinary healthy boundaries.

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.”

What are some cute stories with your crush?

Off the top of my ancient head: