Logo

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

12.06.2025 09:44

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

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

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

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

Physicists observe a new form of magnetism for the first time - Phys.org

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

Off the top of my ancient head:

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

New Research Reveals That Humans Are Seasonal Animals - SciTechDaily

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

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

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

Why is my ex still keeping in touch with me even though she dumped me?

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

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.

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

What does it mean when someone says "I'm feeling frisky"?

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