What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?
Last Updated: 28.06.2025 02:13

Off the top of my ancient head:
Disclosing feelings, fantasies, and experiences to the client in ways not related to the work the client is engaged in.
Eager anticipation (or anxious anticipation) of the next session in ways that distract.
10 Video Game Companions Everyone Hated At First (But Ended Up Loving) - WhatCulture.com
Frequent phoning or texting of clients to “check up on them and make sure they’re OK.”
Failing to mention the client in supervision/consultation, out of fear the supervisor/consultant will advise return to ordinary healthy boundaries.
General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:
Blue Origin boss: Government should forget launch and focus on “exotic” missions - Ars Technica
Routinely going over the time limit with certain patients, compromising the time for the next client.
Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.
Struggling with fantasies of deeper connections with clients, whether sexual or parental or other intense or intimate relationships beyond psychotherapy.
Who has gotten cured from a stage 4 breast cancer? The oncologist told her she would never be cured.
Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.
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.
Sense of competition with persons who are important in the client’s life.
Session-expressed curiosities about client details not relevant to the therapy.