Posted by Nadezda on November 10, 2008, at 16:38:23
In reply to Therapist on facebook, posted by Trident on November 10, 2008, at 10:35:11
Your T is a bit naive at best if she thinks patients won't 1) quite possibly have their own facebook account 2) have some curiosity about her and therefore 3) one day, plug her name into their facebook search just to see if she's there. I can't say whether it's a good idea to tell her, because it really depends a lot on your relationship with her, how she sees you (ie does she think you might be overly interested in seeking her out?) and how she does therapy. Her reaction could range over a great spectrum-- from receptive interest to criticism, to suspicion of your motives-- but unless there's some other reason, I can't imagine the last one would be likely. That seems a bit overreacting to me.
Another thing you might think about is why you're worried she might think you're a stalker? do you feel that uncomfortable about knowing? do you feel some desire to violate her privacy, in some way-- or (what seems to you like) a too-intense desire for intimacy or connection (not that it necessarily is too intense, but it could feel that way). The answers might tell you more about whether to talk about it-- if you feel these feelings, they might be important to address.
But in itself, I don't see that googling your T, or checking out her facebook page is somehow wrong. How many patients have done this? Scads-- With the internet and how often people google other people-- it's quite natural.
But your T is, also, I think rather heedless in letting that sort of information out-- I mean, it really isn't helpful for patients to be able to find out things-- and Ts have an obligation to be very circumspect IMO. So she really should give it a second or third thought--
Welcome to Babble, by the way.
Nadezda
poster:Nadezda
thread:862028
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20081104/msgs/862113.html