Logo

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

Last Updated: 22.06.2025 00:19

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

Off the top of my ancient head:

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

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

This Demonized Carb Is Actually Great for Longevity, According to a Doctor and RD - Yahoo

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.

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

What are the most significant instances of romantic jealousy in the Harry Potter series?

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

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

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

What's an uncomfortable truth you've learned to accept?

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.

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

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

HBO’s Gruesome True-Crime Doc Tried to Have Its Bombshell Moment. There’s Just One Problem. - Slate Magazine

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