Can you be friends with your therapist's daughter?

by Concerned wife
(Fort Lauderdale, FL)

My husband is seing a therapist and is friends with his daughter. The daughter is 27 and my husband is 47....I told him this is not a healthy relationship and is giving this daughter the wrong ideas. What do you think???

Ben's Answer:

It sounds to me like you're concerned about your husband having a friendship with a 27 year old woman. The fact that she's the daughter of his therapist seems to be secondary. I think you need to be clear about what the real issue is for you. What "wrong ideas" do you fear she's having about the relationship? If you're uncomfortable with his friendship with her I think you should discuss this honestly with him; Being friends with the daughter of your therapist is not an ideal situation, as it could blur the boundaries of the therapy relationship. But this depends partly on relationship between the therapist and his daughter (and the therapeutic relationship as well). Most therapists would feel uncomfortable if their client befriended their daughter. And many would probably discontinue the therapy relationship;

Take Care,
Ben Schwarcz, MFT
Santa Rosa Psychotherapist