Posted by spalding on May 26, 2007, at 23:26:14
In reply to Re: 4 years today » spalding, posted by DAisym on May 26, 2007, at 23:05:10
While I understand that different therapists have different approaches -- and it's interesting that you mention hugging in this case -- I find gifts and hugging as the two things that are way out of bounds and dangerous especially to the client, who could, depending on his/her state, construe things as more "personal" than is healthy.
I have had my slew of depressions, a hospitalization, SI, medication difficulties, and the litany goes on and on. So I am not an "easy case" or saying all of this on a lark. I take my treatment seriously.
I say just about anything of a personal nature to my professionals but also joke with them relentlessly. I have said to them that I appreciate that it's not "all mental health, all the time," and their unveiling of their humanity through humor and demonstrations of caring (some verbalization, but moreso their availability, patience, wisdom, etc.) is vitally important to me.
But I DO see accepting of gifts/hugging and the like as a breach of ethics, a revelation of too-flexible boundaries and an indication of a lack of certain abilities.
Lastly, I have had therapists (all MFTs, while my current therapist is a Ph.D. with more rigorous training than anyone I have ever seen) who have received gifts (not from me) and been more "flexible," and in the end, they didn't know what they were doing. I had two such therapists fail me miserably, and yes, not everyone is that incompetent, but as a result I have a very keen eye to how such "professionals" operate.
Just my opinion.
poster:spalding
thread:759374
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20070525/msgs/759733.html