That was cowardly. I knew it. I spent a week in supervision, admitted the attraction, and referred her to a female therapist. Lisa cried. I felt like a monster. But I also felt relief.
I choose her because commitment is not a feeling. It is a series of boring, unsexy, repetitive actions. It is turning off the phone at dinner. It is leaving the holiday party early. It is referring out a tempting client even though it costs you money. temptation confessions of a marriage counselor
If you are a marriage counselor struggling with temptation, please seek supervision and your own therapy. If you are a client who has experienced boundary violations, contact your state licensing board. We took an oath. Most of us keep it. But the ones who don't rely on your silence. That was cowardly
The rain is still falling. I stand up, grab my coat, and turn off the light. The chairs remain empty, waiting for the next couple, the next crisis, the next storm. But for the first time in a long time, I’m not running from mine. Lisa cried
Here is what the public doesn’t understand about marriage counselors: We are not gurus. We are not enlightened beings who have transcended desire. We are people who chose this profession often because we have seen the wreckage of infidelity up close—in our parents’ marriage, our own past relationships, our secret doubts.