Logo

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

10.06.2025 14:59

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

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.

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

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

Which one is better to guys, boobs or butt?

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

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

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

Let's Weigh The Pros And Cons Of Inviting Larry David To Your Wedding - OutKick

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

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

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

What's an underrated/unknown novel or series that you think deserves more attention?

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

Off the top of my ancient head:

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

Why do people procrastinate and how can they stop?

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling: