Logo

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

11.06.2025 00:35

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

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

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

Miley Cyrus Recalls How She Used to 'Hide' Drug Spending From Her Accountant - TooFab

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.

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.

How do you know when your skirt is too short?

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

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

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

What is the most offensive thing someone has ever asked you?

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

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

Off the top of my ancient head:

Why am I sweating so much when I try to do anything?

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