What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?
Last Updated: 21.06.2025 00:34

Struggling with fantasies of deeper connections with clients, whether sexual or parental or other intense or intimate relationships beyond psychotherapy.
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.
Why do companies cull employees during financial downturns without saying so?
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:
General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:
What are the defining characteristics of woke liberals and conservatives in the United States?
Failing to mention the client in supervision/consultation, out of fear the supervisor/consultant will advise return to ordinary healthy boundaries.
Eager anticipation (or anxious anticipation) of the next session in ways that distract.
Session-expressed curiosities about client details not relevant to the therapy.
Why do liberals refuse to define what a woman is and what does that mean for the future of feminism?
Frequent phoning or texting of clients to “check up on them and make sure they’re OK.”
Sense of competition with persons who are important in the client’s life.
Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.
Can you tell me something about yourself?
Routinely going over the time limit with certain patients, compromising the time for the next client.