Therapist family/friend

So, you have personal connections with a therapist…

Being in any kind of personal relationship with a therapist isn't always as poetic as popular culture likes to think. They can be great listeners and super empathetic, but behind the scenes, there’s more to the story. You know firsthand that therapists can bring their work home, overanalyzing and sometimes forgetting to leave the "therapist hat" at the door. People imagine them as perfect partners with all the answers, but in reality, they're just as human and flawed as anyone else.

Here are some of the common things I hear therapist partners feel:

• Like their project/patient (“Don’t therapize me!”)

• Pressure to keep up with their emotions

• Tired of the constant pressure to “just go to therapy” OR If you are already in therapy, tired of hearing it isn’t working

• Wondering “how is [your therapist connection/person] even helpful to their clients?”

• Conflicted generally about therapy given what you see

• “They” win if I go to therapy…

A therapist joke says that having therapist connections in your personal life should come with an informed consent. What is informed consent? Simply put, it's a detailed explanation of what you're getting into, especially when there are risks involved. And let's face it, having a therapist(s) in your life can sometimes feel like navigating a minefield of emotional awareness and mental health expertise. You deserve support no matter what you have been told.

Want to start with INdividual Therapy?

It's brave work, coming into the therapy space when have connections to another therapist. Therapists can be difficult people (trust me, I know this firsthand as a very imperfect therapist human, friend, spouse, daughter, aunt, sister, & mother). But there's a unique power in finding yourself—not as someone else's project, but as your own mystery to explore and enjoy.

For nearly a decade, I've worked with therapist’s friends/family and have come to love this population. You have more to offer than you even realize, especially to yourself. Whether you've known the therapist in your life for over 20 years or are just starting to get to know one another, you will be welcomed here to explore what it's like to exist from your own perspective.

Therapy is about you. It's a safe space to explore your feelings, gain new perspectives, and find practical solutions that work for your life. It's not about who wins or loses; it's about finding balance and well-being for yourself. We're here to help you navigate that journey, judgment-free and at your own pace.

in therapy already & Need group Support

If you've been in therapy for a while, you might find yourself more tuned in to your emotional world than your therapist relative. This can be especially challenging when your said person avoids acknowledging your own emotional power in the relationship, or even avoids doing the deep, long-term therapy work themselves.

It's a unique dynamic, and it can be tough. Recognizing these challenges in a therapy group can be one of the best paths forward to addressing it later with your therapist connection—on your own terms. You can be witnessed for your own emotional insights you do hold, even if you aren’t a therapist yourself.