Logo

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

10.06.2025 14:21

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

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

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

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

After 600 Years, Astronomers Finally Solve the Mystery of the Missing ‘Guest Star’ - Gizmodo

Off the top of my ancient head:

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.

How AI chatbots keep you chatting - TechCrunch

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.

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

Why do I feel so lazy every time I get into my room?

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

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

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

What is it like to have an insanely beautiful girlfriend?

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.