Can therapists give clients gifts and still stay ethical?
I gave gifts to clients. Once. Not unethical, but also not very bright of me. One year, long ago, I saw a picture of a paper white narcissus and thought it was beautiful. I’m no botanist and don’t know much about flowers, but I really liked that one.
What is your opinion of a therapist who tells you what to do?
If you’re having a panic attack in front of me, I know what to do to help stop the agony, but you’ll need to follow my instructions and let me help, which is up to you. I will always ask your permission before jumping in.
Is it okay to end a therapy session early if you just feel you’ve had enough?
I talk about the unique boundaries of therapy and one that adds some protection and specialness is the time period — often 50 minutes. It’s nudging a boundary to change that, which is precisely why I favor doing it once in a while. Stretching a boundary here and there is special, and carries message and meaning.