Posted by Dinah on May 4, 2005, at 9:04:37
In reply to Re: Is it really harmful to be friends with T ? » pinkeye, posted by fallsfall on May 4, 2005, at 7:40:22
There's a fair amount of thought out there that says once a therapist always a therapist. Because whether your therapist is currently acting as your therapist or not, he's supposed to be acting in your best interests. He's not going to breach confidentiality. In many cases he'll ba available for further therapy. A lot of duties don't stop with the actual relationship.
There are also a lot of sub-categories based on the nature of the therapeutic relationship. Did you go three times to learn breathing techniques? Call once for a consult? Have a long term relationship?
But in the case of a long term therapy relationship, I think the ethical guidelines are spot on. Once a therapist always a therapist.
Think of the complications.
Disapprobation from colleagues.
Having to remember what was said in a therapy setting and what wasn't. Because what was said in therapy is still confidential.
The friendship would really have to start over from scratch, and it would be heavily burdened.
It just doesn't seem like a good basis for friendship.
Incidentally, while supportive therapy does discourage transference (and while it happens anyway) my understanding from the literature is that it in no way equalizes the therapeutic relationship more than exploratory therapy. Maybe the opposite. If you ever read the books on supportive psychotherapy...
Well, I have. And I'm in supportive psychotherapy (long term). And I'm under no illusion that my therapist considers me an equal.
Short term CBT and the like would be the least power differential because it's more like teacher/student.
poster:Dinah
thread:493094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050504/msgs/493528.html