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

Last Updated: 02.07.2025 01:52

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

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

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.

Off the top of my ancient head:

Chicago Bears offense has 94-yard TD drive in 2 minute drill at minicamp - Windy City Gridiron

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

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

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

PCIe 7.0 is coming, but not soon, and not for you - The Verge

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

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.

Filmmakers/Actors Vote On 21st Century Films - Dark Horizons

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

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

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

Kharkiv hit by ‘most powerful attack’ of entire war, mayor says, as Russia pounds Ukraine again - CNN

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