Posted by gardenergirl on July 23, 2004, at 7:52:50
In reply to GardenerGirl, posted by NVDeb on July 22, 2004, at 23:37:51
Hi NVDeb,
Thanks for your questions; they are good ones. I hope it's okay if others jump in on this thread, too.I think that some of my elderly clients have said I love you to me. And that has been very sweet and heartfelt. In some cases, I have said I love you back to them. And hugs in the nursing facility where I had a placement one year were often an important part of the therapeutic relationship.
On the other hand, I recognize that the clients I saw last year at the college Psych. services center were very different. I have responded to client-initiated hugs, and have never felt they were inappropriate. In most cases it was at the end of the relationship or after a particularly grueling session. I don't think any of my clients last year said I love you, but I can think of a few in which case it wouldn't bother me at all.
Now if someone said it very early in the therapy relationship, it may feel more like a red flag to me. I guess I mostly trust my gut on issues like this.
Does this help? And I'm curious, has this been an issue for you in therapy? I would love to hear your experience if you feel comfortable sharing it.
Take care,
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:369229
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040723/msgs/369298.html