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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tinydancer on March 7, 2004, at 8:31:14
I'm living out of the country at the moment, and this summer my family is coming to visit me (First time in two years!). As my therapist has been such a huge support to me I would really like to introduce my parents to him. Just really informal, no set ups or any confrontations or anything, just a handshake or something. My T agreed this would be fine, and my parents also think it would be nice to meet him.
I got to thinking though (just indulge me, folks, I know it is a long shot, or perhaps more accurately, no shot) Would it be bad if I asked him if we could (meaning my parents and I with him) meet at a cafe or something? Would this be unethical or just personal preference? I just love the idea of sitting down for a bit and talking so they could get to know him. I'm just curious how putting my parents into the spin relates to ethical dilemmas regarding patients and private life. Any thoughts?
Posted by tinydancer on March 7, 2004, at 8:33:44
In reply to Wondering about some ethical stuff, posted by tinydancer on March 7, 2004, at 8:31:14
>Would it be bad if I asked him if we could (meaning my parents and I with him) meet at a cafe or something?
Well, I think I might have blown it with that sentence alone. I think what I meant to write is, "him, my parents and I" but look how it came out. WOOPS! Busted!!
Posted by fallsfall on March 7, 2004, at 9:39:56
In reply to Re: Wondering about some ethical stuff, posted by tinydancer on March 7, 2004, at 8:33:44
My parents met my first therapist. They live 1 1/2 hours away. My dad came in and joined a session with me, my mother preferred just to shake hands in the waiting room. My therapist said that it was really helpful to her to meet my dad in person - it helped her to understand him (and therefore me) better. It also gave him more of a "warm fuzzy" about my therapy in general. My mother is afraid of therapists, hence why she didn't want to come into the session.
I would advise you to keep everything on a professional basis. If you don't want to share a session, maybe you could share half a session, or 15 minutes. I think that when people are in long-term therapy that it makes sense for parents (and siblings even) to meet the therapist, and for the therapist to meet them.
I have offered to my current therapist to have my parents (i.e. dad) come for a session some time. He is considering it, but hasn't asked for that yet.
Posted by gardenergirl on March 7, 2004, at 13:22:01
In reply to Re: Wondering about some ethical stuff » tinydancer, posted by fallsfall on March 7, 2004, at 9:39:56
Posted by Fallen4myT on March 7, 2004, at 19:13:08
In reply to Wondering about some ethical stuff, posted by tinydancer on March 7, 2004, at 8:31:14
Hey Tinydancer you have asked your T harder things :) so I think IF you are prepared for a maybe no I cannot it can't hurt to ask
Let us know?
Posted by tinydancer on March 8, 2004, at 10:13:04
In reply to Re: Wondering about some ethical stuff » tinydancer, posted by Fallen4myT on March 7, 2004, at 19:13:08
I actually forgot to ask him. I might email him later on.
Posted by Fallen4myT on March 8, 2004, at 10:28:19
In reply to Re: Wondering about some ethical stuff » Fallen4myT, posted by tinydancer on March 8, 2004, at 10:13:04
I like email. If you see him soon you may want to wait but ?
Posted by DaisyM on March 8, 2004, at 12:57:26
In reply to Wondering about some ethical stuff, posted by tinydancer on March 7, 2004, at 8:31:14
I don't want to be negative here but I think seeing your Therapist with your parents outside of his office becomes too much like "meet my parents" on a date. I don't think this is really a good idea because it might fuel the fire you've already admitted is burning brightly.
It is so difficult to have such an important person in our life that we don't share with the rest of our family. (Not that, right now, I want to or would.) But I think you run the risk of compromising the theraputic relationship by meeting casually.
I agree with Fallsfall that sharing a session might be appropriate because it has value for your therapy.
Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear. Just my 2 cents...
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