Therapy Session: Really Bad Counseling Skills 1

The client discusses her fulfilling work life, particularly a non-violent video game project for autistic children. She expresses that work makes her feel happy and energized, contrasting it with her home life, which she describes as depressing and black and white. She works 50 hours a week, and her work often carries over into her personal time, impacting her marriage.

The therapist's unprofessionalism becomes evident as she openly attends to having food in her teeth and asks the client for a Stim-U-Dent. This leads to a digression where the therapist shares personal anecdotes about her mother using Stim-U-Dents, further blurring professional boundaries.

The therapist confronts the client, suggesting she is a 'hoarder,' referencing a conversation with the client's husband, John. The client refutes this by describing her collection of beautiful clothes and shoes. The therapist then takes a personal call in the session, showcasing her old, non-smartphone, and explaining her resistance to changing it, linking it to the client's 'hoarding' tendencies.

The client reveals her extensive collection of red shoes, a lifelong habit. She shares that her husband, John, is unaware of the full extent of her spending on shoes. She occupies multiple bedrooms in their childless home with her collections, which concern her husband. The client starts to acknowledge that her collecting behavior could indeed be considered hoarding, drawing a parallel to her sentimental attachment to newspapers and magazines.

The conversation shifts to the therapist's shoes, with the client expressing admiration. The client, who collects shoes, suggests the therapist teach her how to buy shoes. The therapist mentions her shoes are from Clarks and bought online. The client reveals she has new shoes in her bag, which she was hesitant to show. The therapist then suggests that if giving her the shoes helps the client 'let go,' it could be part of the therapy, indicating a clear boundary violation.

The client offers the new, expensive brown shoes to the therapist. The therapist accepts, confirming they are her size, and says she will wear them to a future session. Shortly after, the therapist abruptly ends the session early, citing a sudden need to attend to something, and asks for a tissue. The client acknowledges the 'shoe thing' as a big step in letting go.