Psychology In Seattle Podcast
Firing Clients and Taking Too Much Care of Yourself
May 2, 2025
This discussion dives into the tough choice of terminating client relationships for safety reasons, shedding light on the importance of therapist boundaries. The episode also explores emotional expression in therapy, particularly for those with borderline personality disorder. Listeners will find insights on the transformative effects of the pandemic on social life and how nostalgia can influence self-care. Personal stories offer a deeper understanding of the balance between self-acceptance and meeting our emotional needs.
01:07:20
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Quick takeaways
- Therapists must prioritize their safety and may need to terminate client relationships when facing aggression or threats to their well-being.
- Feelings of guilt regarding client termination often arise from a deep-rooted desire to help, yet self-protection is paramount for therapists.
Deep dives
Navigating Client Termination Due to Safety Concerns
A new clinician shared her difficulties in terminating a therapeutic relationship with a client exhibiting aggressive behavior, citing concerns for her safety. This situation highlighted the complexity of handling client aggression and the emotional toll it can take on therapists. Recognizing the need for a referral to anger management, the clinician grappled with guilt over potentially missing a corrective experience for the client. Experts emphasized that therapists have the right to prioritize their safety and that abrupt terminations are sometimes unavoidable in scenarios involving clear threats.
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