There is actually a term in psychoanalytic literature that refers to a patients feelings about his or her therapist known as transference,1 which is when feelings for a former authority figure are transferred onto a therapist. Falling in love with your therapist may be more common than you realize.

Is it normal to be attracted to your therapist?

Therapists feel a range of emotions toward clients—from disgust to lust. Its natural for therapists to feel attraction, says Shaw. We do experience an emotional intimacy with our clients.

Can you have a relationship with your therapist?

Your therapist should not be a close friend because that would create whats called a dual relationship, something that is unethical in therapy. For example, it is unethical for a therapist to treat a close friend or relative. It is also unethical for a therapist to have a sexual relationship with a client.

Is it bad to get attached to your therapist?

This is definitely something that can be worked out and worked on and your strong feelings for your therapist are entirely natural, appropriate, and yes, essential. Essential because therapy is all about the power of relationship. Good therapists should be able to accept you completely and entirely as you are.

Do therapists miss their patients?

But therapists who fail to acknowledge or control such feelings might, for example, become unduly critical of a patient, miss appointments with the patient, or become robotic-emotionally blank and numb-to stifle their feelings, Pope said.