Does she care maybe a bit too much?

Mountaindewed · Apr 06, 2020 at 12:25 PM

I’ve been seeing my therapist for awhile. She’s been very helpful. Today made me feel like maybe she’s trying a bit too hard. She emailed me something a couple weeks ago and then I emailed her back about something. Then last week she said it was totally ok for me to email her but that she couldn’t respond due to HIPAA. This week she told me to email her as much and I wanted and to email her as if I was journaling and if she felt like it couldn’t wait until next week she would get back to me. She said she likes me to email her because then she’s able to see the bigger picture. She asked me if I wanted to continue seeing her every week and I said “yeah I guess.” And she said “that’s what she is thinking too.”

I don’t know. Maybe she’s like this with everyone. It just seems that recently she’s gotten more caring then she usually is and I’m wondering if she’s being sort of weird.

I am doing a lot better then I was 6 weeks ago if that makes any difference.

comrademoomoo · Apr 06, 2020 at 01:14 PM

I am not sure I am the best judge of this because my therapist is unusual with her boundaries, but this does not sound like a therapist who is overly involved. It sounds as if she is responding to your needs (offering for you to contact her) without over-promising or extending her boundaries (she will not respond to your emails). Maybe she is being more explicit with her care given these strange times and in acknowledgement of the fact that everyone is all struggling. As you describe her behaviour, I would not be concerned in your position. She's human and she is offering contact, seems professional and compassionate to me.

Rive. · Apr 06, 2020 at 06:13 PM

Not necessarily. These are scary and uncertain times and many clients are struggling. And what with the loss of the typical face-to-face interactions, some Ts are willing to be more flexible regarding boundaries, in order to support clients as best they can. This might mean more frequent contact, check-ins, emails etc.

Omers · Apr 07, 2020 at 06:37 PM

Some T’s allow that kind of contact, some don’t and for some it depends on how the client uses it. It sounds like you are using it in a way that benefits your therapy and your T is recognizing that. Also, a lot of things are changing in the world of therapy right now as we all adjust to restrictions. My T has changed some things too.

ArtleyWilkins · Apr 08, 2020 at 09:37 AM

I think she, like pretty much everyone in the world right now, is figuring out how to do her job, meet client needs, etc., in a very strange circumstance. It's an ever-evolving process.

Salmon77 · Apr 08, 2020 at 12:27 PM

I wonder, what would it mean to care "too much"? What would be dangerous about that for you? What is the right amount of caring, and where does the danger kick in?

To me, as long as therapy is always about working on the client's needs and not the T's, it doesn't really seem possible for the T to care "too much," but I guess I don't know.

Mountaindewed · Apr 10, 2020 at 10:22 AM

I guess there’s nothing wrong with it. I’ve had mental health professionals be interested in me before. I’ve had them take my case because it was “interesting” or another therapist took my case because she had more experience then some of the other T’s. I’ve had counselors from group call around to get info about me. I guess my current T isn’t any different.

I’m not exactly sure “why” everyone I’ve encountered in the mental health field seems so interested. But whatever.

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Does she care maybe a bit too much?

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Rive. Magnate Member Since Sep 2013 Posts: 2,008 10	Apr 06, 2020 at 06:13 PM #3 Not necessarily. These are scary and uncertain times and many clients are struggling. And what with the loss of the typical face-to-face interactions, some Ts are willing to be more flexible regarding boundaries, in order to support clients as best they can. This might mean more frequent contact, check-ins, emails etc.
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ArtleyWilkins Magnate Member Since Oct 2018 Location: USA Posts: 2,787 5 7 hugs given	Apr 08, 2020 at 09:37 AM #5 I think she, like pretty much everyone in the world right now, is figuring out how to do her job, meet client needs, etc., in a very strange circumstance. It's an ever-evolving process.
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Salmon77 Poohbah Member Since Mar 2014 Location: PNW Posts: 1,394 10 106 hugs given	Apr 08, 2020 at 12:27 PM #6 I wonder, what would it mean to care "too much"? What would be dangerous about that for you? What is the right amount of caring, and where does the danger kick in? To me, as long as therapy is always about working on the client's needs and not the T's, it doesn't really seem possible for the T to care "too much," but I guess I don't know.
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