Should My Therapist And I Discuss Our Same Interests In Hobbies?

Creative hobbies, such as art, writing, or music, can be a powerful way to express difficult emotions and thoughts. Clients should feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings with their therapist, but there are some reasonable boundaries that should be followed. For example, if a couple has different interests, it is acceptable for them to discuss their thoughts with their therapist.

Attending therapy sessions is beneficial if the therapist is allowed to share information without consent when there is a risk of harm to themselves or others or when mental health information is at issue. Emotional closeness between the couple may also be appropriate for discussing therapy sessions. Involvement in care is also possible if the partner has a mental health issue.

To begin a conversation with a therapist, consider 12 things:

1. “Small” issues: It’s common for therapists to talk about themselves, such as interests and hobbies, which can impact how they demonstrate affection. However, it’s important to remember that this is part of the therapy process and should not be used as a means to control emotions. Therapists should use self-disclosure and share personal lives occasionally, but should never share information casually with friends, family, or co-workers.

When in doubt, ask your therapist, as differences in interests can cause serious relationship problems. The issue of boundaries has always been a non-issue for many clients, as they only see their clients for 50 minutes and have no contact between sessions.

What is oversharing in therapy?

In therapy, excessive talk about oneself is beneficial as it allows therapists to gain insight and provide support. It is important to be open and freely discuss personal matters, even if they feel too personal to share. Oversharing in therapy is not about saying “too much”, but about sharing irrelevant topics that do not relate to the individual’s feelings or experiences. While there is no harm in oversharing, it may not necessarily benefit personal growth.

To avoid getting off-topic or off track, it is essential to work with your therapist to clarify and define your therapeutic goals. This helps in identifying which topics are pertinent and which are less important or relevant. By doing so, you can ensure that you are not saying “too much” or getting off track in therapy.

Is oversharing a trauma response?

Trauma dumping is the sharing of traumatic events without considering how it may affect the emotional well-being of the other person. It can be a symptom of PTSD, where individuals try to connect emotionally with others to challenge feelings of isolation or to push people away while coping with other effects of trauma. It is often a result of conversations where one may ignore the discomfort of the other person.

Is it OK to tell your therapist everything?

You can share anything you want with your therapist, as they hope to help you. They are required to keep your thoughts confidential, with some exceptions. For instance, if they have reasonable cause to suspect you’re a danger, they may need to involve a third party to ensure safety. Confidentiality can be complex and laws may vary by state, so your therapist should discuss it with you at the start of your first appointment and anytime thereafter. Once you understand the role of confidentiality in your therapeutic relationship, you’re ready to share what’s going on with your therapist.

Can I ask my therapist for a hug?

Therapists can hug clients if they have permission, but most won’t initiate a hug. If they do, they should ask for permission first. Therapists may explore the meaning of the hug and encourage reflection to understand the client’s needs and decide if it’s appropriate. This also models getting consent for touch. However, hugging a client can be harmful in cases of sexual abuse or if the client has difficulty with boundaries and interprets the therapist’s hug as a sexual advance. In such cases, it’s essential to give permission for the therapist to hug.

Is it OK to share everything with your therapist?

The amount of information shared with a therapist is up to the client, but being honest with them is beneficial as it provides context and details for their help. Focusing on less intense topics can help get comfortable with the therapist, but everyone’s comfort levels around self-disclosure vary. Some clients share their deepest secrets in their first meeting, while others take months or more to open up.

Should a therapist ever hug a client?

In some cultures, hugging is a sign of care, and therapists must be sensitive to their clients’ cultural backgrounds in order to provide appropriate care. It is possible that they may not engage in physical contact with their clients in the form of a hug. However, they may elect to do so if it is deemed to be significant or if they perceive that declining a client’s request for such physical contact could have a detrimental impact on the therapeutic relationship. The provision of physical comfort by a therapist may be appropriate in the following circumstances:

What do therapist think when you’re silent?

Therapists often face the challenge of helping clients who consistently attend therapy but are often silent during sessions. This can be mentally draining for therapists, as they may feel pressured to fill the silence or interpret it as their failure. Silence is often described as resistance, which can inadvertently establish an adversarial role between the client and the therapist. Reframing the situation as the client experiencing ambivalence changes the view of the silence into a challenge for the therapist’s clinical skills rather than a fault for which to blame the client.

Using strategies to meet the clients where they are at is crucial in helping them identify and resolve their ambivalence. This can be accomplished by using strategies based on the clinical skills the therapists already possess. Knowing that they already have the skills to resolve ambivalence can increase their confidence in working with a silent client.

A strong therapeutic alliance is one of the primary indicators of a successful outcome in therapy. It is the establishment of a partnership between the therapist and client. However, therapists may judge the quality of the partnership based on the clients’ active participation, leading to misinterpretation of silence as poor therapeutic alliance.

One strategy for resolving ambivalence is viewing the silence as confirmation of strong therapeutic alliance, meaning the therapist is providing enough warmth and acceptance to allow the client to be comfortable sitting in silence with the therapist. By believing in the strength of the therapeutic alliance, therapists can reduce the insecure or inadequate feelings of the client and change the approach used during the session.

What are the boundaries of therapist client relationship?

The concept of professional boundaries encompasses a number of key areas, including the duration of sessions, the use of personal disclosure, the limits placed on physical contact, the setting of fees, and the overall tone of the professional relationship.

Is there anything you shouldn t talk to your therapist about?

During therapy sessions, it is crucial to avoid discussing confidential conversations, displaying violent emotions, or implying romantic or sexual interests. Therapists’ primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and privacy of their clients. Avoiding certain words or phrases can lead to negative consequences.

Lena, an online therapy provider specializing in self-esteem, anxiety, and life transitions, offers bilingual services. Kristen Fuller, MD, a physician with experience in adult, adolescent, and OB/GYN medicine, specializes in mood disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and reducing stigma associated with mental health.

To find a therapist, consult infographics and resources such as infographics and infographics. Both therapists offer bilingual services and specialize in addressing mood disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and reducing stigma associated with mental health.

Is it normal for a therapist to talk about other clients?

Therapists are legally required to maintain confidentiality for their clients, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for them to share their thoughts and feelings. This includes not confirming or denying treatment, discussing revealing contact information, and keeping all therapeutic material private. However, there are legal exceptions to this rule, and therapists should debrief clients on these exceptions before starting treatment. These exceptions include:

1. Involving a client in the initial contact, unless the client makes the first approach.

2. Using a third-party service, such as a mental health professional, to provide a more private and confidential environment for clients.

In summary, therapists must maintain confidentiality to maintain a safe and supportive environment for their clients.

What therapists don t talk about?

This book aims to help therapists and therapists-in-training understand the myths and taboo topics that weaken their practice and cause anxiety. Topics include feeling incompetent, making mistakes, being caught off guard by fees, becoming enraged at patients, managing illness, understanding sexual arousal and impulses, praying with patients, feeling ashamed, being fired, and not knowing what to do.

The 1993 first edition was Sexual Feelings in Psychotherapy: Explorations for Therapists and Therapists-in-Training, while the second edition expanded to include other topics. The book provides resources for recognizing these myths, challenging them, and speaking honestly and directly with patients about topics that have been off-limits.