{"id":7862,"date":"2023-10-03T02:59:43","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T19:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7862"},"modified":"2023-10-03T02:59:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T19:59:43","slug":"can-a-therapist-see-a-couple-individually","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7862","title":{"rendered":"Can a Therapist See a Couple Individually?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">F<\/span>or many, therapy is a safe space; somewhere they can say anything and know that they won\u2019t be judged. Instead, they\u2019ll get help unpacking their emotions, learn healthy coping skills, and receive sage advice from a trained mental health expert. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/when-to-do-couples-therapy\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/when-to-do-couples-therapy\/\">couples therapy<\/a>, 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.<\/div>\n<p>Given that it can be so difficult to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-find-a-therapist\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-find-a-therapist\/\">find a therapist<\/a> these days (let alone a good one), it\u2019s tempting to consider double dipping if you\u2019re 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?<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Technically, yes. There\u2019s no law against your couples therapist doubling as your individual therapist, says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.danamharristherapy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.danamharristherapy.com\/\">Dana M. Harris, LMFT<\/a>, who treats individuals and couples. However, \u201cthis is typically an ethical conflict,\u201d Harris says. \u201cMost of us are trained that this is not a best practice and there are lots of reasons why.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That said, there are some cases where having your couples therapist also serving as your individual therapist may be beneficial. But there\u2019s a lot of nuance around this topic to unpack\u2014and reasons why therapists might not be into the idea at all.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-therapist-see-couple-individually\/\" current-title=\"Can Your Couples Therapist Also Be Your (or Your Partner\u2019s) Personal Therapist, or Is That Weird?\" current-image=\"GettyImages-couples-therapist-Fiordaliso-425x285.jpeg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-04-02\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-therapist-see-couple-individually\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-therapist-see-couple-individually\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/can-therapist-see-couple-individually\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>When a therapist should not see couples individually for therapy<\/h2>\n<p>As Harris mentioned, there are quite a few cases in which it wouldn\u2019t be ethical or advisable for your couples therapist to be your individual therapist.<\/p>\n<p>For example, it\u2019s a bad idea when the therapist is only seeing <em>one<\/em> person in the relationship (as opposed to everyone involved). \u201cIf a therapist is seeing one person from the couple individually, it can be hard\u2014even as a therapist\u2014to make sure that they\u2019re not biased,\u201d says Harris. After all, they\u2019re hearing a lot more about one person than the other person or people in the relationship.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;If a therapist is seeing one person from the couple individually, it can be hard\u2014even as a therapist\u2014to make sure that they\u2019re not biased.&#8221; \u2014Dana M. Harris, LMFT<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And if it\u2019s hard for a licensed therapist to check their biases, imagine what it would be like to the person who isn\u2019t receiving individual therapy from this provider. \u201cIt is hard for the other person in the couple to truly believe that the therapist isn\u2019t taking sides,\u201d Harris says, which might impact the outcome or efficacy of the couples therapy sessions. (For example, you might be less receptive to feedback or exercises suggested by the therapist if you feel like you\u2019re not getting a fair shake during the group sessions.)<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also an issue of confidentiality, says individual and couples therapist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/therapists\/anthony-phillips-los-angeles-ca\/1088934\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/therapists\/anthony-phillips-los-angeles-ca\/1088934\">Anthony Phillips, AMFT<\/a>. \u201cAs therapists, we always adhere to a secrecy policy, meaning that whatever is mentioned during individual therapy has to stay in that session as far as the therapist is concerned.\u201d When your therapist is treating you and the couple you\u2019re in, it immediately challenges a therapists\u2019 ability to maintain that secrecy policy, Phillips adds.<\/p>\n<p>Also, we\u2019d be remiss not to point out that when therapists are treating individuals, that singular person is their client. \u201cBut when we\u2019re treating a couple, the relationship is our client,\u201d Harris says. What Harris means by this is that the therapist will not treat any session as one partner versus another partner. In actuality, it\u2019s all partners versus the argument, issue, conflict\u2014you get the point. This approach helps prevent people from experiencing perceived biases and keeps them on the same collaborative page.<\/p>\n<p>For all of these reasons, none of the therapists we spoke to treat individuals separate from their couples counseling. \u201cI have worked with couples who decide to stop therapy and I will continue seeing one member of the couple as an individual, but I make sure that they understand that we cannot go back to couples therapy once that happens,\u201d says Harris, referencing the dangers of perceived biases.<\/p>\n<h2>Is it ever okay to get individual therapy from your couples therapist?<\/h2>\n<p>That said, there are some instances where it can be helpful for your couples therapist to double as your personal therapist. The most common occurrence for this is <em>before<\/em> you fully commit to couples therapy, says sex therapist and licensed clinical social worker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluewellnesscenter.com\/chantabluelcswcst\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.bluewellnesscenter.com\/chantabluelcswcst\">Chanta Blue, LCSW<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is helpful for the therapist because we\u2019re able to get a full background history of each person in the relationship,\u201d Blue says. She adds that this may also provide an opportunity for one partner to fully express how they feel without worrying about hurting people\u2019s feelings.<\/p>\n<p>It might also be helpful for folks to separately get therapy from their couples counselor if they\u2019re having a hard time communicating in their couples session, says Phillips. \u201cIf the couple is volatile in session and they don&#8217;t do well communicating with each other, getting a story from both perspectives can be beneficial when you bring it to couples therapy,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>This therapeutic double-dipping may also be beneficial in making sure that the goals of the couple and respective individuals are aligned, says Harris. Say that one of the people in the relationship is working on their defensiveness. \u201cWhen that is coming up in the couple&#8217;s session, it&#8217;s so much easier if the same therapist knows that [and handles it in individual sessions],\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>TL;DR: You could have the same therapist for yourself as you do for couples counseling\u2014but you\u2019d want to make sure that <em>all<\/em> the people in the relationship are seeing the therapist individually in order to prevent perceived biases.<\/p>\n<p>And, remember, when you and your partner(s) fight, it\u2019s hardly ever you versus them. In actuality, it\u2019s y\u2019all versus the problem\u2014so proceed accordingly.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many, therapy is a safe space; somewhere they can say anything and know that they won\u2019t be judged. Instead, they\u2019ll 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 &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7862\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}