Let's answer basic questions first?
Do counsellors even have friends and family and do they even have good relationships with them or do they end up analysing them all the time too?
Yes, counsellors are regular people who have friends and family just like anyone else. They have personal lives outside of their professional role as counsellors. Having a support system of friends and family is essential for their well-being, just as it is for anyone else in any other profession.
But if they have such good relationships with their friends and family why can't they be their counsellors?
They can be their very own in-house counsellor, Right?!?
Actually not.
Counsellors typically avoid providing counselling services to their family or close friends due to several ethical and practical reasons:
1. Objectivity: Counsellors need to maintain a certain level of objectivity and neutrality when working with clients. If they counsel someone they have a personal relationship with, it can be challenging to remain impartial and unbiased, potentially compromising the quality and effectiveness of the counselling.
2. Dual Relationships: Engaging in a counselling relationship with someone who is a family member or close friend can create a dual relationship, where the counsellor holds both a personal and professional role with the individual. This can lead to conflicts of interest and make it difficult to separate their personal feelings and responsibilities from their professional duties.
3. Confidentiality: Counsellors are bound by strict confidentiality guidelines, and it might be challenging to maintain confidentiality when counselling someone they know personally. The trust and privacy that clients expect from their counsellor may be compromised if they fear that personal information could be shared within the social circle.
4. Boundaries: Maintaining professional boundaries is crucial in counselling to ensure the client's best interests are served. Counsellors are trained to create a safe and therapeutic space for clients, and these boundaries can become blurred when working with friends or family.
5. Impact on the Relationship: Counselling sessions can bring up deep emotions and sensitive issues. If a counsellor discusses personal or family-related matters during counselling with someone close to them, it could affect their relationship outside the therapeutic setting.
Understanding and keeping all of this information in mind, try not to pester your in-house counsellor and reach out to us at Psychoflakes with any kind of services that you may need!