Friends after therapy... anyone?

[anonymous]

The National Health Sevice in the untied kingdom. They suck.

 

[Muted]

The National Health Sevice in the untied kingdom. They suck.

Do you have to pay all out of pocket for the other counselor then?

Sorry, lm off topic, I was just curious.

 

[Deleted member 42665]

Yes, me too. I have a very dear friend who used to counsel me. It has been a little awkward at times...

That feeling part sounds awesome to me, I struggle so much with having to edit that part of who I am so being able to be me completely and comfort/support him too would be amazing. Some
of the things he has told me so far about him have already made me feel so sad and wish I could be there for him, it's been tough

Anyway very cool story! Glad it worked out

 

[SinkorSwim]

My T and I are two years apart in age. We have a lot in common. I always wondered if we could be friends after therapy. I thought it was a huge no in my mind, but reading these makes me a little more comfortable with my feelings surrounding it.

 

[NightSky]

My t is 4 years older than me and we knew each other causually before I started with her. we have a lot of overlapping circles of people. My mother was her therapist for a time. (My mom is an amazing counselor. But i can’t see her, obviously, so she suggested mine to me) We’ve spent time outside of therapy together and we know each other’s families. We are always very open about how it is impacting the therapeutic relationship. For me, it has been positive. I once said I’d be in therapy forever and she said that’s not true and when I’m done we can be friends. I have no idea if we will but I know we will continue to interact in other contexts and we do enjoy each other’s company.

 

[Changing4Best]

My therapist was friends with my on FB, but now that you mention it, I don't know if she is still a friend there or not. Let me go check....

Yes, we are. However, I have not seen much of her there and frankly I have not been there much myself. Busy. So I'd say we are no more than casual aquaintances. We don't do anything in real life together, for instance.

 

[ms spock]

Yeah several times. It didn't go well. One moved in to my flat and I had to leave for three months (becoming homeless) until she decided to move out. She semi stalked me through my friendship network, so I had to drop out of it. One became a sexual partner and knocked out my two front teeth. One shared my life story openly whilst I was away at the women's toilets, and I got back to the restaurant table as she outlined my current challenges. One pulled some pretty heavy stuff so that when I was almost well, and able to manage, I become destabilised and dependent again.

 

[MyWillow]

Holy crap @Disco Dancing Queen how INCREDIBLY unprofessional your Ts were. That is off the Richter scale. Seriously. I’m really sorry you were forced to survive through that on top of everything else. Kudos to you.

 

[Crow]

I'm terminating Monday with my T (going in-network to save money). We have a cautious dual relationship now in that I do tech work and travel planning for her in exchange for other nontherapy stuff. I have lots of questions about future communication. We'll see each other in public as we have similar interests. It's gonna be a huge transition.

 

[Deleted member 37085]

No haters please...different strokes...whatever floats YOUR boat. Thank you.

I could not nor would I ever try to become "friends" with any of my former T's...nor my current therapist. For me...that is boundary crossing...and cutting into our professional "working" relationship. I would have all kinds of trust issues, HIPPA issues, etc.

It is difficult enough without my trauma history being known fully by my friends and my acquaintances...without having that mess...also in the midst and mix of our friendship. Just sayin'.

 

[kilted]

I feel there's a difference between types of therapy..... talk therapy, is much more problematic in this regard than somatic, activity orientated therapies such as dance, equine, art, yoga, meditation etc.

These therapies have less reliance on the "relationship" between therapist and client and more on the client undertaking an activity as the engine of change.

Therefore having a friendship post therapy with one's art therapist or the facilitator of one's equine therapy is significant'y less problematic than with one's talk therapist.

 

[ms spock]

Holy crap @Disco Dancing Queen how INCREDIBLY unprofessional your Ts were. That is off the Richter scale. Seriously. I’m really sorry you were forced to survive through that on top of everything else.

It is not off the ricter scale though I have met other people who have some sad stories to tell.

Once you open that door, and cross those professional boundaries - well you are in a very vulnerable position.

I actually would have been better off if I had never gone to therapy.