For many, therapy is a safe space; somewhere they can say anything and know that they won’t be judged. Instead, they’ll get help unpacking their emotions, learn healthy coping skills, and receive sage advice from a trained mental health expert. In couples therapy, preserving that sense of safety is just as important, as two (or more people) figure out how to get vulnerable and work through their issues together.
Given that it can be so difficult to find a therapist these days (let alone a good one), it’s tempting to consider double dipping if you’re in couples therapy but also looking for individual help, or vice-versa. But can a therapist see a couple individually for one-on-one therapy?
Technically, yes. There’s no law against your couples therapist doubling as your individual therapist, says Dana M. Harris, LMFT, who treats individuals and couples. However, “this is typically an ethical conflict,” Harris says. “Most of us are trained that this is not a best practice and there are lots of reasons why.”
That said, there are some cases where having your couples therapist also serving as your individual therapist may be beneficial. But there’s
Add A Comment