What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?
Last Updated: 23.06.2025 00:05

Struggling with fantasies of deeper connections with clients, whether sexual or parental or other intense or intimate relationships beyond psychotherapy.
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:
EchoStar Soars 49% As Trump Urges FCC To Settle Dispute - Investor's Business Daily
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:
Frequent phoning or texting of clients to “check up on them and make sure they’re OK.”
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X pre-order date and price may have been revealed - The Shortcut | Matt Swider
Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.
Disclosing feelings, fantasies, and experiences to the client in ways not related to the work the client is engaged in.
Routinely going over the time limit with certain patients, compromising the time for the next client.
If my lovely sister sleeps with my boyfriend, what should I do about her?
Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.
Sense of competition with persons who are important in the client’s life.
Eager anticipation (or anxious anticipation) of the next session in ways that distract.
What are some life hacks for living on your own?
Session-expressed curiosities about client details not relevant to the therapy.