Why or why not?
2006-11-02 05:44:35 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Before i was in the practice of psycology myself. I had depression. My personal opinion is you can be a friend because, you have to earn their trust and friendship before you spill your guts to them. When i went to therapy, my counselor got to know me a little before we started our sessions that will make you more comfortable in talking with him. Then you will know that he wont tell others. My advice is to go see your Bishop, Pastor, or whoever is over your church. He will be a better help then a counselor. I try to establish a friendship with my clientel
2006-11-02 05:57:27 · answer #1 · answered by big pappy 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No, because the moment the counsellor falls into that trap it wrecks the dynamics of the relationship. Some REALLY important issues about boundaries here!!
The role of a counsellor is very different to that of a friend. Furthermore, a good counsellor should ensure that the client does not become dependent on him/her - a friend however is going to be someone (usually) that will be in the clients life for a long time.
Also, when does the counsellor know if they have been asked a question as a friend OR as a counsellor. The two should answer differently.
"Would you like to go to the pictures tonight":
Friend: Sure yes, why not - or "no, I'd rather not thanks"
Counsellor "Where would YOU like to go"
etc :)
2006-11-02 05:50:33 · answer #2 · answered by Mark T 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, and trust me from experience, if you do cross the boundary it will be the worst mistake you will ever make. I am in therapy to get over my therapist. It is unfortunate that you meet a therapist you may love, but you cannot have an outside of therapy relationship with them. Why can you not have the counselor as your friend? An unequalness will always exist in the relationship due to how the relationship was intially set up. The counselor can lose his or her credentials for crossing boundaries. The counselor knows everything about you, you are paying them to listen, and they may be different as a friend. Plus, you know nothing personally about the therapist-maybe you won't like them personally. And, maybe just maybe they are better help to you as a counselor than as a friend.
2006-11-02 05:59:23 · answer #3 · answered by catzrme 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No a counselor cannot be a friend. A counselor has a degree in counseling, usually a bachelor degree. A friend can listen to your problems, but a counselor will also listen and tell you the best thing for you. A friend will be basised and a counselor cannot be.
2006-11-02 05:55:19 · answer #4 · answered by e4rul 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, there needs to be a professional distance maintained, and the counsellor should ensure that that happens. There is a process called transference, where the client begins seeing the counsellor as a friend, because the counselllor is helping the client professionally.
2006-11-02 05:53:04 · answer #5 · answered by Lydia 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, a counseler has to keep a professional barrier between him,herself and a client. I've had to remove mysef from counciling someone because I would are could not be of any good when it came to giving advice
2006-11-02 05:55:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No i'm sorry in the end we have to be a counselor, because we are intially uphelp by a code of ethics. We must follow those ethics to maintain our license and professinalism
2006-11-02 05:57:15 · answer #7 · answered by do you know me? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have a friend relationship with my counselor. Its okay if you think you can trust them. But if you are talking a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship I think that would be very inappropriate
2006-11-02 05:58:08 · answer #8 · answered by Kerribug 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely, but the line does have to be drawn, and clearly identified. The client has to be able to understand that you are looking out for their best intrests, and will always tell them the truth, even if it hurts them.
2006-11-02 05:53:44 · answer #9 · answered by Nikki 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely not! Friends don't remain friends if you tell them the unvarnished truth as counselors are paid to do.
2006-11-02 05:49:36 · answer #10 · answered by noils 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋