Do therapists have there favorite clients? Or do they work very hard to not feel that? Also can they become protective over some clients and motherly towards them?
2007-02-24 08:19:18 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Yes. They are people, first. They click on a personal level in the just the same way as if they had met the client at a social event. They don't advertise, but it wouldn't be productive to stifle a connection that might make the therapy go smoother. In certain cases, especially with children, therapists will be protective.
The idea of remaining objective is to keep a therapist from having subjective input and influence and to keep him from a relationship outside of the office.
When a therapist likes a client, he is happy to not have to see him again; that he has benefited and can go on with his life.
2007-02-24 08:31:10 · answer #1 · answered by Charlie Kicksass 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, therapists have favourite clients. A good therapist will be aware of the feelings that are generated by a client and use that information to the benefit of the therapeutic process. I think the therapeutic "detachment" is more about maintaining a professional relationship and not disclosing too much than it is about trying not to have feelings. So, I don't think most therapists do more than stay aware of the feelings they have toward their clients. They don't try to repress those feelings.
As far as feeling protective and "motherly," I think that most therapists feel generally protective toward their clients; after all the clients are putting themselves in a vulnerable position the the therapist. Being motherly, though, may be starting to cross the bounds. Therapists are not mothers; they are not parents. If they have those feelings, it is, again, useful information, but a good therapist will not "mother" their clients.
2007-02-24 16:56:30 · answer #2 · answered by senlin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From my point of veiw, I would say Yes and No. No, because I think it would be immoral for therapist to do that, but on the other hand, I think even the highest regaurded therapist may struggle from time to time, with falling in love or befriending a client. I think that comes natural as a human being to be drawing to someone or to not like someone. But I'm only guessing. I hope I could help.
2007-02-24 16:30:48 · answer #3 · answered by Frost bite 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, though they try very hard not to. They do have favourite clients, and many will become protective over clients, though most therapists, if they become protective over one, they're likely protective over all or most of them. But yes, most therapists have a favourite.
2007-02-24 16:24:43 · answer #4 · answered by eastbaywhatsername 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the above is possible. Although effort is made to prevent this, therapists, like anyone else, are human.
2007-02-24 16:23:12 · answer #5 · answered by Kerry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course they do, they are human.
2007-02-24 16:23:07 · answer #6 · answered by moondog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋