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

08.06.2025 00:42

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

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

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

Routinely going over the time limit with certain patients, compromising the time for the next client.

Why in my 60s do I have a strong desire to suck cock and swallow?

Frequent phoning or texting of clients to “check up on them and make sure they’re OK.”

Off the top of my ancient head:

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

How can I help my cat adjust to sleeping in its own room after allowing it to sleep with us as a kitten?

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

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

My husband asked me why do I keep on complaining about him cheating. Why don't I just leave?

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

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.

When did Elon Musk fall from grace?

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