Logo

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

Last Updated: 23.06.2025 02:23

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

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

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.

Is BPD real or just an excuse?

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

Off the top of my ancient head:

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

Why did my 2001 4.6 liter Mustang GT V8 make "only" 260 HP while today's base Dodge 3.6 liter V6 churns out almost 300 HP? Both benefit from fuel injection and ECUs.

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

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

Broadcom CEO On VMware Renewals, VCF Customers And Tomahawk 6 - CRN Magazine

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

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 are some common medications prescribed for anxiety while traveling?

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.