Where Do You Stand: Sharing Your Therapist

June 20, 2008

If you take it upon yourself to see a therapist, chances are you need that unbiased person to confide in and truly trust with your deepest secrets and innermost thoughts. Often times it takes a few tries to find someone you mesh with, so if a friend, family member, or significant other were to ask for your therapist's name for their own use, would you offer it up? I know I wouldn't want someone I might vent about to go to the same person as me, even though they are sworn to secrecy, but what about you? Where do you stand on sharing therapists?

Source

8 Comments

JaimeLeah526 4 years 47 weeks

Your therapist can't say anything about your sessions so what is there to worry about. It doesn't mean that he or she is helping you less. If they help you than they might be able to help the people that you love which can strengthen your relationships. I'd definitely share.

PamiP 4 years 48 weeks

I know that for my field we are ETHICALLY obligated not to take on different clients from close relationships. Couples/family counseling is different, but for individual therapy counselors should try and refer out the newer individual to someone they know is good as soon as they find out about the relationship. Also though, it is sometimes unknown to the counselor about these relationships and it makes for what can be a sticky situation. Bottom line, if your family member asks for your therapists name you can always tell them that the therapist won't see them because the close nature of your relationship, and that the therapists office could probably recommend someone good in the community. I agree with Swen, if there is any reason you are feeling uncomfortable in the therapeutic relationship bring it up and discuss it, that way you can work on those feelings (or maybe if necessary find a new counselor)and hopefully regain the therapeutic bond so you can get on track to getting your work done.

PamiP 4 years 48 weeks

Swen 4 years 48 weeks

I don't think therapists are supposed to take clients from the same family. I don't know if that extends to friends too. Personally, I wouldn't recommend my therapist unless if it was merely an acquaintance, not someone I know pretty well. Otherwise you'd end up censoring yourself and defeating the whole purpose of seeing a therapist. Instead, I'd ask my therapist if he/she could recommend someone else for my friend.

Geisha Runner 4 years 48 weeks

It depends on who it is. A friend - sure! I tell them everything anywayz! My husband - that's a horse of a different color! That is just not my thing!

stephley 4 years 48 weeks

I have shared a therapist with a family member. It worked out okay, but I don't think I'd do it again - I feel now that I was lucky then. Since that experience, I've met therapists that I wouldn't trust as much, and I've found that if a friend or family member feels threatened by any changes to you as a result of therapy, getting in to undermine the situation is a real possibility.

stephley 4 years 48 weeks

I have shared a therapist with a family member. It worked out okay, but I don't think I'd do it again - I feel now that I was lucky then.Since that experience, I've met therapists that I wouldn't trust as much, and I've found that if a friend or family member feels threatened by any changes to you as a result of therapy, getting in to undermine the situation is a real possibility.

annebreal 4 years 48 weeks

Well, if you have found a therapist you think is competent and you trust, then I'd hope I thought they were ethical too. I guess a worry of mine might be that if I had a nosy or gossipy friend/relative, they might try to dig into why I see them, but in general, why not? Especially if the person is a first-timer it'd be a disservice not to give them a name of someone you know is good.

Link Love

8 Comments

You Might Also Like