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

Last Updated: 16.06.2025 12:28

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

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

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

Off the top of my ancient head:

What is a common thought that keeps people up at night? Why do some people experience this?

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.

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.

Jenny from Perth writes – my partner is the life of the party, women and men adore him. But at home, he gets angry at us for the silliest reasons and never nice words me or our kids, always putting us down. Should I stay or leave him?

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

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

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

Has anyone ever read The Holy Bible completely through? If so, what was your overall impression of it?

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

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

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

What are your political and economic beliefs? How did you form them, especially in comparison to those who hold opposing views?

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.