What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?
12.06.2025 00:19
Disclosing feelings, fantasies, and experiences to the client in ways not related to the work the client is engaged in.
Eager anticipation (or anxious anticipation) of the next session in ways that distract.
General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:
What does the Bible say about the Antichrist? How will we know when he arrives on the scene?
Routinely going over the time limit with certain patients, compromising the time for the next client.
Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.
Off the top of my ancient head:
The Universe's Most Powerful Cosmic Rays May Finally Be Explained - ScienceAlert
Frequent phoning or texting of clients to “check up on them and make sure they’re OK.”
Sense of competition with persons who are important in the client’s life.
Session-expressed curiosities about client details not relevant to the therapy.
Why were the Japanese soldiers in WW II so hesitant to surrender in battle?
Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.
Struggling with fantasies of deeper connections with clients, whether sexual or parental or other intense or intimate relationships beyond psychotherapy.
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.
Failing to mention the client in supervision/consultation, out of fear the supervisor/consultant will advise return to ordinary healthy boundaries.