Hmmm - I know this type of T would not work for me. I suppose at a large party, it's not really a breach of confidentiality to invite clients, if it's not JUST clients...I mean, if it's friends, family, co-workers, clients...then you wouldn't know who's a client and who isn't. Until someone is asked how they know the T. Then you get in to the awkwardness of either coming up with a lie or saying that you're a client. If it's only clients at the party, then I think it's a distinct lack of confidentiality, as suddenly, all these other folks know you're seeing this T.

I happen to really LIKE the boundaries of the therapy relationship. I pay T for her time and expertise and in exchange, I get time to talk about what is important to me without worrying about the other person. I think if I had a T that invited me over to their house and socialized with me outside of the therapy relationship, it would start to feel too much like a friendship. I'd start to feel obligated to treat the T as more of a friend - listening to their problems, worrying about what I say to them, supporting them as I support my friends.

Perhaps it works for some people, but I think it's not the most professional way to be.