Logo

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

Last Updated: 25.06.2025 01:31

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

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.

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

‘How to Train Your Dragon’ soars in box office debut with $83.7 million, beating ‘Lilo & Stitch’ - AP News

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

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

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

Can an infrared sauna blanket assist in weight loss along with detoxification?

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

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.

The #1 Anti-Inflammatory Diet Habit You Should Start, According to Dietitians - EatingWell

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

Off the top of my ancient head:

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

HP Dimension with Google Beam Takes Virtual Collaboration to the Next Level at InfoComm 2025 - HP.com

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.