I want to know whether my relationship with my psychiatrist is normal because I have an Aunt (more like an older sister to me) who is a social worker and highly disapproves of our therapeutic relationship.
She says we're too lose and that basically my therapist isn't setting the appropriate boundaries.
She says it's inappropriate for us to exchange gifts. Yet this has happened only twice (over 4 years). When my psychiatrist was pregnant with her second child I spent about $60 on 2 gifts a fancy rattle and a very well made German toy (a talking mushroom - don't ask). The baby loved the talking mushroom and plays with it to this day. Also recently I was seeing the "the Nutcracker" at the city ballet when I saw two gifts that I just new her older daughter would love. A set of plush bears with interchangeable clothes, and a sort of tiara (both ballet themed). All mothers talk about their children, and I've gotten to know about them, the girl loves ballet (both classes and watching) and they were in her favorite colors. So I couldn't help myself. These are the only 2 times in my life I have bought her anything. My aunt not only says this is inappropriate she said I was acting like a child molester
As for what she gets me, only little things like a cup of hot chocolate if it's cold or a small gift of chocolates from an expensive chocolatier every Christmas. That's it.
My aunt also feels that she shares too much with me, like one time I was feeling severely overwhelmed and she shared with me that she too felt exactly the same once. I found this greatly reassuring. Once after therapy she said she couldn't decide between two briefcases for her husband, and asked my opinion, we walked over to the store (on the same block) and I helped her decide.
These few examples greatly anger my Aunt, who feels that my therapist is being inappropriate, crossing boundaries and is generally a bad psychiatrist
I completely disagree with her and what she says. This psychiatrist has been a great help
However, in your objective opinion does my aunt have a point?
Are the gifts I gave her inappropriate?
Are me and my psychiatrist too close?