Table of Contents
Can a therapist tell you they like you?
They won’t tell you that. It’s too dangerous. A therapist will almost never say, I love you, even if they feel or think it. Therapists know that the therapy relationship can be confusing, and it’s not unusual for clients to get the wrong idea and fall in love with their therapists. If you believe you’re safe and comfortable with a hug from your therapist, it doesn’t hurt to ask for one. Of course, your therapist has a right to say no. Your therapist’s relationship with you exists between sessions, even if you don’t communicate with each other. She thinks of your conversations, as well, continuing to reflect on key moments as the week unfolds. She may even reconsider an opinion she had or an intervention she made during a session. Discussing the facts of a situation without delving into your related emotions. Asking for prescription medication without being willing to put in the work in therapy. Believing your therapist can and will “cure” you. Talking about every detail of your day to avoid discussing uncomfortable topics. 70 percent of therapists had felt sexually attracted to a client at some point; 25 percent fantasized about having a romantic relationship. However, actual relationships were very rare: only three percent had started a sexual relationship with a client.
Can I ask my therapist if they like me?
Can I ask My Therapist What He/She Thinks of Me? Yes, you can, and yes you should. This is a reasonable question to ask a therapist, and any good therapist will be happy to answer. If you’ve developed romantic feelings for your therapist, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s a common occurrence that professionals are trained to handle. You may be surprised to know that what you are experiencing with your therapist isn’t uncommon. In fact, what you are likely experiencing is a phenomenon known as “erotic transference,” which is when a person experiences feelings of love or fantasies of a sexual or sensual nature about his or her therapist. Of course. Therapist are people. Clients are people. Just as with any other relationship, we form much stronger bonds with some people than we do with others. Therapists are people just like you Most therapists entered the mental health field because they had to work on themselves or they experienced a life-changing event in the past. Therefore, they may be drawn to clients who can relate to their circumstances.
Do therapists share about themselves?
Can Therapists Ever Self-Disclose? Yes. Therapist self-disclosure can be a powerful therapeutic tool, but self-disclosure is most definitely an advanced therapeutic skill. Good training programs teach therapists about the timing and the technique for self-disclosure. Psychotherapy is, for the most part, confidential. Patients of mental health providers like psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers reasonably expect that their in-therapy disclosures will remain private. Looking ahead. Sharing something you think is too sensitive or personal can be uncomfortable. But know you’re not alone in thinking you’ve disclosed too much in therapy. When this happens, it can help to explore why you think you’ve overshared and talk it over with your therapist. Many therapists use texting to schedule sessions with clients. But beyond that, professionals are divided as to whether it’s a good idea to text clients between sessions about issues that are bridged in therapy itself. For therapy to be successful, your therapist must maintain healthy boundaries in the relationship and cannot develop a friendship with you. Because of this, it could seem like your therapist is being fake or disingenuous with you. Short answer: yes. A new study published on January 15 in the Journal of Clinical Psychology finds that 86% of the therapists interviewed by the study’s authors say they sometimes do look up their patients on the Internet.
What if I have a crush on my therapist?
If you’re falling in love with your therapist, try not to panic. This is a common experience called transference. Discovering and healing the root of why you’re experiencing transference can help you achieve healthier relationships, including the one you have with your therapist. So clients often have feelings for their therapists that are like the ones that children have towards their parents. Sometimes it feels like falling in love. Transference is completely natural and normal, and it can enhance the experience of therapy significantly. The only time when you’re TOO over attached with your therapist and it becomes a problem in therapy, is when it’s too intense and it’s interfering with your life; it crosses boundaries society puts up as right/wrong; and personal boundaries the therapist has set (there’s guardrails in life that everyone has). Can I ask My Therapist What He/She Thinks of Me? Yes, you can, and yes you should. This is a reasonable question to ask a therapist, and any good therapist will be happy to answer.
Do therapists develop feelings for their patients?
It’s not uncommon for therapists to have feelings for clients, and vice versa—call it transference, countertransference, or something else. But we have to remember that it’s the therapist’s job to meet the client’s therapeutic needs and goals, not the therapist’s own personal or professional wants and needs. We walk a fine line of being on your side but making sure that you are grounded and can maintain proper boundaries. So yes, we as therapists do talk about our clients (clinically) and we do miss our clients because we have entered into this field because we remain hopeful for others. A referral from a friend, colleague, or doctor you trust is another way to find a therapist who might be a good fit for you. While a referral is a good place to start, it’s important to recognize that you may have different needs and goals with your therapy than the person giving you the recommendation. When the psychologist mirrors, he or she is giving attention, recognition, and acknowledgement of the person. If the patient has a deep need to feel special, than the therapist’s interest in understanding, and the provision of undivided attention, is reparative.