Can one become friends with your therapist if they say its OK?

Question

My therapist and I have become quite close and I'm finished with therapy and would like to know my therapist on a casual, friendship why(no I don't have a crush or romantic feelings for her). If she says its OK is it OK and would I need to find another therapist one day?

Answer 1

The whole idea of having a therapist is to be able to talk to someone who doesn't know you and just has this outside and objective view and analisis on what you talk about, generaly yourself. So, to my opinion, it wouldn't be a very good idea, but it is your decision. How does it make you feel ?

Answer 2

What some of the otherrs are not responding to is that you have finished with therapy.

I would suggest you consider giving it a break first. An interval of time gives you space to put the therapeutic relationship behind you so that when you meet her casually you are fully feeling "past therapist" not "therapist". As one answerer has said, you do not know her in a rounded way at present. It may be an idea for you to contemplate now how you might feel if you experience her as a friend and she in any way lets you down or upsets or disappoints you.

Ethically there is a grey area here for the therapist. At one extreme, if a client wanted to socialise the week after finishing therapy, the therapist would seriously question the client's perception, and, if she were minded to say 'yes', equally closely examine her own motives. At the other extreme, if she were to start socialising with an ex-client seven or ten years after the end of therapy and especially if the ex-client had in the meantime had a therapist/client relationship with another therapist, she might reasonably see the risk of harm to the client as minimal.

If you were later to want therapy, it would be normal professional ethics for her to insist on you seeing a different therapist, because as a therapist one does not normally take as clients people one knows from another life context. But even with this, it varies. The smaller the town and the more insignificant the casual contact, the more acceptable it is to take on someone one has known casually.

Answer 3

The idea of therapy is to build a relationship of trust between you and your therapist so that you feel comfortable discussing your most personal feelings.

It's good that you feel you and your therapist have become quite close, but think about it for a minute - what do you really know about her?? I'm guessing not a lot, not in the same way that she now knows things about you - so it is a very unbalanced relationship right now.

It is her job to make her clients feel comfortable with her, and to make them feel safe with her, it is for those reasons that therapy can happen and progress.

It is normal to feel you have a closer relationship with her than with some of your own friends, perhaps, but that is the nature of the treatment.

So in answer to your question, no, it would not be a good idea for you to ask her to meet you socially or outside the therapy setting. She would have to say no, ethically.

You might be better concentrating on the friends you have, or meeting new ones.

Answer 4

It does rather depend on what sort of therapy you've been receiving.
If you've been in psychotherapy, for example, then the depth of that relationship and the ethics of her profession will pretty much forbid anything else.
With less intense therapies, say aromatherapy, there is actually no reason why, once your therapeutic work is over, you shouldn't have a good friendship with her.
It has to be said, though, that the decision is for her to make, not for us on Answers. It is not unknown for a doctor or therapist to say something like, 'I think you need to see my partner', so as to be free to take a relationship further.
Ask her. But prepare to be disappointed.
Jon C

Answer 5

Hello there!

I'm sorry to have to say it is not okay to pursue a friendship with ones therapists or any other professional that we see. Further, it would be unethical for her to say ok to it.
This happens so very often, one getting on so well with their their caregivers. But it just can't go beyond their offices. When our therapy ends, so does the working relationship. It is time to make our goodbyes to each other. It's just not a feasible friendship to have. Nor a healthy one either.

I hope this helped.
Good luck to you! :)

Answer 6

No, it's not okay - it's unthical and possibly illegal, depending on where you live. Google and read up on "transference" and "countertransference".

Due to the nature of the therapeutic relationship, an unequal relationsip exists, an imbalance of power.

Plus, you might need a therapist again, some day.

Answer 7

ok... Your mom has yhour best pastimes at heart-in case you dont have self belief this than you've worse issues. Your therapist went to college for close to to ten ears to be the position she is, she is specialist. both one in all those human beings are in the agency of assisting you. If it is a topic the courting between your mom and thier loved one, then confront your mom and tell her your emotions. Take your time, cool down, and communicate it out. I promise this is going to likely be ok. reliable success

Answer 8

It sounds like you aren't finished with therapy. I think you need one more visit to say exactly what you've just written here, and I firmly believe your therapist will give you an answer to the negative with full explanation.

Answer 9

It can happen, though it's unlikely to. And it's far far far from something recommended.

The end or termination of a client / counsellor relationship does not really 'allow' for the beginning of a 'personal' one as there are risks of too many transferring or crossover points ....where the counsellor knows more about you than you know of him / her, and where you might slip into the automatic 'client' role ..and create all kinds of issues to arise.

Any counsellor who allows this would be very foolish, although i understand and can readily appreciate what you mean.

It isn't something that is 'personal,' but it could become so for many, and that's thee problem to be avoided.

Best of luck.
Sash.

Answer 10

I agree with those who say no. Don't put her in the embarrassing situation of having to say no to you. You may feel that she is your friend because you've bee pouriing your heart out (I presume) to her and she has (I hope) given you positive unconditional love. It's been a one-way relationship. You don't know her as a person outside of the therapy location. That's the way it's supposed to be.