Posted by workinprogress on September 9, 2009, at 23:06:01
In reply to Weird thing (re: dual relationships), posted by yellowbird01 on September 9, 2009, at 19:37:43
I'd say the old babble adage:
"talk to her about it"
applies here too. In fact, the talk about what's going on thing is actually practice for real life. I'd suggest just saying, you know, this feels a little awkward and I just wanted to put that out there. We used to have a very different relationship and now we'll be working as peers" Then you might insert anything you might have thought of that will make it work better for you, specific concerns, worries (even- all of the sudden I worry you'll judge me... she can probably reassure you that she won't).
It is a tricky situation, not one you could probably avoid, unless you have only just started working with this client and there's a colleague you could pass them on to...
Regardless, I think your ex-therapist would totally understand, they have lots of power in the relationship for 1, for 2 she knows lots about you- it's her job not to abuse that though and it is fair to seek reassurance about it.
Just my 2 cents...
good luck!
> I know I dont post often here, and I'm really not even sure what kind of response I'm looking for.. I just want to share this with people who will understand how very odd it feels.
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> I work in the social work field. I frequently refer clients to counseling and other treatment programs as needed. I saw a therapist in my area for two years. I stopped seeing her in December and am now seeing someone else. I live in a fairly small area, so I knew it was only a matter of time until me and my ex-therapist shared a client. Now it is happening! Because of the type of work i do, it's important for me to follow up with therapists etc to ensure clients are cooperating and doing what they need to do. I faxed my ex-therapist a release and left her a voice message saying I was also working with this client and requesting she call me so we could share information etc. She left me a message in return today. I didnt call her back yet. I dont see her for therapy anymore, but this is still very weird... to share and receive information from my therapist about another client. Yikes. It doesnt upset me, it just makes me nervous and uncomfortable I guess. In a way, it really scares me! I'm worried about coming off as stupid, which I never worried about before with her... but we've never interacted professionally before. I'm going to call her tomorrow sometime. I imagine it's probably just as awkward for her as it is for me. I left this therapist in good terms, and like her a lot.. this should be interesting.
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poster:workinprogress
thread:916244
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090907/msgs/916283.html