Logo

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

08.06.2025 03:19

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

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

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.

Massive Asteroid Bigger Than the Empire State Building is Racing Toward Earth - The Daily Galaxy

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

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

Off the top of my ancient head:

What is one small habit that has transformed your life in unexpected ways?

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

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.

Watch 'superorganism' created by tiny worms — the first time it's ever been spotted in the wild - Live Science

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

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

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

How many wishes do people get on their birthday?

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.