Posted by Crackers on May 29, 2006, at 19:31:39
In reply to Re: Is it really harmful to be friends with T ?, posted by octavia on May 3, 2005, at 18:55:46
> Hi happyflower,
>
> I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I do think it's possible. In my mind there are big 'ifs' though. If the client is willing to leave behind the theraputic relationship, if the desire to be friends is mutual, if the client sees the therapist as more of a coach/confidant than a parental figure, and if the client is comfortable with the possibility of it not working out then I say yes to trying friendship. Everyone is an adult. But that's just me. I might be the only one here that thinks that, too. It's an edge case and therefore technically out of bounds. There are really no allowances for it. I know that it does happen, though. It's just really unusual. This is an issue that has been HEAVILY weighing on my mind.
>
> OWait 2 years after the therapeutic relationship is over if you still want to be friends at that time go for it. I terminated my friendly/ therapeutic relationship with my T because I felt he had sexual feelings for me. He avoided the subject everytime I tried to bring it up. After terminating the T - relationship he continued to invite me to talk to him outside of session. Finally I advised the man that I felt his ethics were unorothodox at the bare minimum. So my advice trust your gut!!!.....Ask yourself why you feeling this way and don't doubt yourself.
Alison B.
poster:Crackers
thread:493094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060526/msgs/650211.html