Developing the therapeutic relationship within ethical boundaries is of paramount importance for the effectiveness of therapy sessions. But as a client, do you really know to what extent your therapist is behaving “ethically”? In this article, I aim to raise awareness of possible ethical violations in the therapeutic process and to encourage clients to reflect on the functionality of their own therapy experience.
Boundaries in Therapy
Let’s begin with the first question: How does it sound to you if your therapist is also your friend, neighbor, or relative? Would you want to conduct your therapy with someone you already know? While it may seem like a safer option, let me remind you that this would mean your therapist is part of your social life in another context. To what extent can your therapist truly remain impartial and protect your confidentiality if they also relate to you outside of therapy? This undermines the concept of boundaries, which is meant to benefit the client. In therapy, boundaries are a prerequisite for creating a safe, consistent, and impartial therapeutic relationship.
Outside Contact and Dependency
The second question touches on similar points but is worth highlighting separately because it occurs frequently. Does it really support a client’s therapeutic process if the therapist stays in contact outside of sessions—messaging or speaking on the phone? Consider a simple example: telling a client with a dependency schema, “Call me whenever you need to,” will foster dependence on the therapist or psychiatrist. Reinforcing such a dependency schema takes the client further away from the therapeutic goal. The true aim is to help clients develop the skills to cope with challenges independently after the sessions have ended. In clients whose dependency schema has been reinforced, it is not uncommon to observe a lack of self-reliance even after years of therapy. Beyond schema considerations, such behavior also poses a direct threat to ethical principles.
Restricting therapist–client communication to the therapy room prevents a secondary relationship from developing. Following clients on social media, meeting for coffee, or frequent messaging are all examples considered ethically inappropriate. Protecting professional boundaries is crucial for maintaining a healthy therapeutic space and directly influences the functionality of therapy.
Public Encounters and Confidentiality
Now imagine you are a psychologist and you run into your client in a supermarket or at an event. The third question is: What would you do in this situation? Suppose you go up to your client, greet them, and ask how they are doing. What if the people accompanying your client do not know they are in therapy? Your well-intentioned gesture could expose your client and put them in a very uncomfortable position. To prevent such situations, the ethically appropriate course of action is to let the client initiate any interaction. As a psychologist, you are obligated to safeguard your client’s confidentiality.
Non-Directive Approach
Another issue concerns the use of leading questions and labeling statements by the therapist. Instead of asking, “Did being there make you happy?” a non-directive question such as “How did being there make you feel?” should be used. It is not the therapist’s role to tell the client what to do. Rather, the therapist’s role is to accompany and support the client. Therapists frequently face situations where clients ask, “What should I do? Tell me which option is right for me.”
The fourth question is: How would you respond in this situation? I cannot imagine an ethical therapist saying, “I think you should break up with your partner. He’s not the right person for you. You can do much better.” Such a response is far removed from ethical practice. Instead, the therapist should emphasize that the decision rests with the client and that it is not their role to define what is right or wrong. The therapist supports the client through their decision-making process but never dictates the final choice; they actively avoid being directive.
Choosing a Qualified Therapist
Finally—and perhaps most importantly—when selecting a psychologist or psychiatrist, it is essential to review their educational background and areas of specialization. Individuals who are not licensed clinical psychologists are not authorized to provide psychotherapy, and as clients, being aware of this is crucial. Qualified clinical psychologists do not begin sessions with promises of “guaranteed results.” They recognize that therapy is a long and effortful journey, that each case is unique, and that treatment plans must be tailored individually. No two cases of bipolar disorder or depression are identical. Even if certain diagnostic symptoms overlap, especially in the presence of comorbid conditions, each person experiences these disorders differently.
I hope that in your future therapy process, you will take all these factors into consideration. I want to stress the critical importance of investing your time, effort, and financial resources in well-trained professionals who adhere to ethical standards.