Ethics

Erotic transference is one of the most misunderstood—and often most feared—phenomena in psychotherapy. When sexual or romantic feelings emerge toward a therapist, clients may feel confused, ashamed, or worried that something has gone wrong. Therapists, too, can feel anxious about how to respond appropriately. Yet from a therapeutic perspective, erotic transference is neither unusual nor pathological. When handled ethically and skillfully, it can become a powerful doorway into

Therapy does not fail because therapists care too much. It fails when caring turns into over-validation, safety-seeking, and emotional sedation . Many clinicians are exquisitely attuned, endlessly empathic, and deeply affirming—and yet their clients remain stuck for years. At some point, the work stops being therapy and becomes a well-intentioned holding pattern. This is a wake-up call: growth requires risk , and so does good therapy. When Validation Becomes Avoidance Validat

In traditional therapy training, therapists are often told to be a “blank slate.” They should maintain a calm, neutral, and emotionally reserved demeanor. The idea behind this approach is to keep the focus on the client and avoid interfering with the therapeutic process. This concept has roots in Freud's work; he argued that the therapist serves as a blank slate onto which the patient can project, displace, or transfer their feelings. While this model has its merits, the trut