Is This Normal?

[JackD]

---

Members don't see this ad.

My brother got into a car accident a few years ago and as part of his lawsuit against the person who hit him, his lawyer made him see a psychologist. To see if it took an emotional toll or something, who the hell knows? Anyway, he said he decided to stop going after a few sessions because his psychologist greeted him with a hug whenever my brother would go to his office. Are psychologists supposed to give hugs, let alone unsolicited hugs? It seems like some kind of boundary would be pushed there. But what do i know? I am not a psychologist nor have i ever had therapy sessions. Is that what you psychologists do? Is that part of the normal treatment process?

 

[empathiosis]

No, that is not normal. It sounds inappropriate.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I wouldn't. Being a male and working particularly with populations that may have a hyper-sensitivity to something like that, I make sure to set clear boundaries up front, as many of the people I work with in therapy have unhealthy relationships with men, and often will try and violate any and all boundaries. It is important to model appropriate professional behavior, and the clinician above....definitely didn't do that.

 

[sunlioness]

My brother got into a car accident a few years ago and as part of his lawsuit against the person who hit him, his lawyer made him see a psychologist. To see if it took an emotional toll or something, who the hell knows? Anyway, he said he decided to stop going after a few sessions because his psychologist greeted him with a hug whenever my brother would go to his office. Are psychologists supposed to give hugs, let alone unsolicited hugs? It seems like some kind of boundary would be pushed there. But what do i know? I am not a psychologist nor have i ever had therapy sessions. Is that what you psychologists do? Is that part of the normal treatment process?

There's nothing inherently wrong with hugs, but I have to agree that there is something creepy about unsolicited hugs especially on first making someone's acquaintance. And especially between guys, given the cultural sanctions against that sort of thing.

 

[erg923]

Probably depends on your theoretical orientation, but def not normal and I was not trained that way. I would personally view that as inappropriate and unprofessional.

 

[kyril]

i'm a woman, and i would be totally wierded out if my psychologist/therapist hugged me, and especially early on in the relationship. maybe if i had been going for a long long time and i just expereinced a death or something truly horrible, but i think even then it would really be based on tons of factors and a long standing therapeutic relationship.

 

[deleted106747]

I'm with Yalom - it's ok to hug if and only if the client asks for it, and that there is no sexual vibe. And if there's hugging, the hug must be discussed.

 

[myelin]

is it against the law? no. is it ethical? hmm. as mentioned, i think it depends on the theoretical perspective of the therapist. certainly it would be strange to receive an unsolicited hug from your therapist.

from the perspective of the program i'm in, touching clients is a slippery area. even handshakes are questionable in some situations. our ethics course used the Knapp & Vandecreek (green apple color) book.

 

[SpoiledKiwi]

I think that is definitely a big no-no. I don't blame your brother for not going, that would creep me out too.

 

[MaddieMay]

I'm all for a good handshake if the client initiates it. It's a nice middle ground.