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

Last Updated: 22.06.2025 11:22

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

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

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

Off the top of my ancient head:

In England, there's a small city called York which was named after New York. Why wasn't London, the largest city in England, named after New York? Why York?

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

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

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

Is it possible for computers to eventually eliminate the need for programming? If so, what would happen to programmers?

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

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

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

What are the potential economic consequences of the U.S. following Europe's lead on climate policies, as discussed in the article?

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

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.

Why did my ex replace me so fast?

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.