Posted by gardenergirl on April 22, 2006, at 22:08:14
In reply to Re: multiple relationships APA ethics code: study, posted by happyflower on April 20, 2006, at 13:26:49
> How would you handle this GG, if this happens to you as a T?
Well, this is also something my T doesn't address, unless if it comes up, I guess. However, I've been trained to tell my clients in the first session about how I would handle incidental contact outside of therapy. I tell them that I will not acknowledge them unless they acknowledge me first. That way, it protects their privacy if they are with anyone and don't want to feel that social "pressure" to introduce me to the other. I also tell them this so that if they see me and I don't acknowledge them, they know why versus worrying about why I didn't say anything.
My T thinks this is not necessary to talk about in the beginning, and he probably thinks it "muddies up the therapeutic space", so to speak if you do. But I have run into clients outside of therapy a few times. I've always asked them the next time if they want to talk about it at all. It's usually fine. I admit, though, that once or twice I ran into clients while out with my husband, and that felt a bit weird for me. It felt a bit intrusive, although the client's behavior was fine. It was just my stuff, ya know? Eek, now they have a mental image of me with my loved one. What do they think? This is my own stuff, though, so I have to keep it in check unless it comes up with the client. I'm not sure I'd want one of my T with his wife. In fact, I know I don't.
Again, I'm rambling. Must be the lack of enough sleep last night and the long day today.
Take care,
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:635284
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060422/msgs/636006.html