Birthday gift for helpful therapist - ethical considerations

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Forum -> Relationships -> Giving Gifts

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amother ↓

Fri, Oct 26 2007, 11:57 am

I am wondering what to buy my therapist as a gift.I have been seeing her for 15 months or so and she has been enormously helpful and a real role model for me. I found out from the Jewish newspaper that its a big birthday for her-65-I believe and Id love to buy her something. Obviously I cant ask her friends what to buy nor can I ask her children/Is it appropriate to buy something or do you think its crossing a boundary?
She is a Traditional/Conservadox person who has a very full life and is involved in every jewish cause and quite a socialite.She only takes clients very part time, so I feel particularly lucky to have her helping me so much.
Any thoughts??

Clarissa

Fri, Oct 26 2007, 1:33 pm

It's a sweet idea. As far as gift-giving being appropriate, when I gave my therapist a gift (for having a baby) I actually asked if I could give her something, the day I brought the gift.

I always think that there is no way one can go wrong giving a picture frame. Also appreciated are nice boxes of fancy chocolate, a small plant, a bottle of wine. Some therapists are always drinking a cup of coffee during the session, so a couple of really pretty mugs might be nice.

Imawoman ↓

Fri, Jan 18 2008, 12:56 pm

I'm not sure if you are seeing a registered psychologist, but you should know that according to the American Psychological Association (APA) ethical guidelines, Psychologists are not allowed to accept gifts worth more than "token value".

↑ amother

Sat, Jan 19 2008, 6:57 pm

that's a really interesting question, one I've wondered about myself.

when my (former) therapist's husband died, I sent her a card. I figured, even if she was my therapist and we have these boundaries, she's still a jew and I still care about her in that respect.

so I don't know the answer to your dilemma, but I'd be curious as to how it turns out one way or the other!

↑ Imawoman

Sun, Jan 20 2008, 8:46 am

Last amother, I don't think that sending a condolence cards oversteps boundary issues. If you were to take her out for coffee or offer to cook her meals or babysit her children, that would have been a problem.

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