I recently saw a post on another forum from a young female who went to a therapist for bulimia, only to get there to recognize that the therapist was "extremely, anorexic thin." Whether the therapist truly had an ED or not, who knows.....
However, that leads to this......
Personally, I find it shocking when therapists who are actively battling eating disorders, addiction, self-harm, uncontrolled mood disorders and personality disorders are practicing and dealing with clients daily.
How can a therapist model good health and self-care to a client when the therapist can not do it themselves?
It is similar to a physician telling a patient to lose weight, when the physician is obese. What kind of model is that?
Even if they hide their behaviors or symptoms, what is the ethical obligation to the clients?
I have seen several MDs lose their licenses when battling terrible genetic illnesses, such as ALS or MS. The Board has said, you are not safe for your patients.
In medicine, it can be quite difficult to get licensed to practice if the MD is ill or presents with a possible danger/harm to a patient.
For example, a psychiatrist who has severe PTSD symptoms may be prevented from being licensed by the board, for fear that the psychiatrist may do harm to their patient.
Psychology does not say that. This is frightening.
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