So, Paulette, we got an email from a patron, Patron Mahala, and she is writing about her feelings about her therapist. She thinks that there might be a sexual attraction. So I thought we would read the email and sort of provide some thoughts and advice. What do you say? Is this one of your patients? No, not one of mine. It's a, I don't know where this person is. But anyway, what do you say?

Let's do it. This is the Psychology in Seattle podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Kirkonda. I am chair of the

couple and family therapy program at Antioch University Seattle, and I'm also a psychotherapist.

And I'm Paulette Perhatch. I'm a writer living in Seattle. The email starts by

saying I'm a four I am 40 years old and I am from Europe. I am in psychotherapy since six months now

due to a deep depression being away from my family. I am a corporate working mom. And by the way,

patron Mahala consented to using her name. So she's

working a lot and she's a corporate working mom. My therapist is exceptional, extremely professional,

and I feel better after talking to him. I can tell I have a different view about myself. She goes on to say,

my therapist is that person

who listens, is interested in my problems. He is there for me. He understands me. He never judges

me and he cares about me. He is crazy good looking as well. Doesn't hurt. Is there anything

more that I can ask from someone? So, you know, he's there for her. He listens to her. And he's crazy good looking. Is there anything more that I can ask from someone? So, you know, he's there for her,

he listens to her, and he's crazy, good looking. Is there anything more I can ask for someone, she says?

I like him a lot, but I am aware of the boundaries and I am protecting myself from being emotionally

hurt. Therefore, I see him as my therapist and a professional friend. I never flirt and never make moves on him,

but I talk about my past sexual experiences in detail, and this is a part of our therapy.

He seems particularly interested in that area. Who wouldn't be, generally speaking, she says.

Any thoughts on this? Oh, God. Yeah, I mean, I think we've talked about before how when you see a therapist, it mimics a lot of what you want out of a relationship. You want someone who's not going to judge you, who listens to you. But also, it's like you say all those things.'s like if you're like oh I'm really attracted to

this stripper I see all the time she laughs at my jokes she sits on my lap so you're saying

us therapists were basically just strippers pretty much your emotional strippers whereas a stripper gives

you what you want sexually therapist often gives you what you want emotionally which is like

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