What are some signs that a therapist may have poor boundaries with their clients?

These items can happen fleetingly, briefly, in any therapy, but if they’re frequent, it’s definitely time for the therapist to get some good, solid supervision/consultation.

General Introduction to Boundaries from Panahi Counseling:

Sense of competition with persons who are important in the client’s life.

What does the stink of the skunk look like? Why would it be dangerous?

Session-expressed curiosities about client details not relevant to the therapy.

Disclosing feelings, fantasies, and experiences to the client in ways not related to the work the client is engaged in.

Failing to mention the client in supervision/consultation, out of fear the supervisor/consultant will advise return to ordinary healthy boundaries.

Why is my ex mad I moved on when he dumped me?

Serious disappointment when the client cancels a session.

Routinely going over the time limit with certain patients, compromising the time for the next client.

Off the top of my ancient head:

What was your biggest culture shock going to Europe?

Struggling with fantasies of deeper connections with clients, whether sexual or parental or other intense or intimate relationships beyond psychotherapy.

Obsessing about clients outside of work hours.

Eager anticipation (or anxious anticipation) of the next session in ways that distract.

Why do you allow your cat to lie in bed with you?

Frequent phoning or texting of clients to “check up on them and make sure they’re OK.”