Bumping into therapist in public--What's your protocol?

I don't live in a small town, but my therapist and I live near each other. When we first started working together, she told me that she had a policy of ignoring clients who she saw in public, to protect their privacy. But she would tell me whenever she'd seen me, after the fact. Sometimes I'd seen her during those times as well but wouldn't let on. And sometimes I'd see her and she wouldn't see me--like when I'd catch her driving down the street--and I wouldn't tell her.

Now we freely say hello to each other. I'm glad because I think it would feel weird otherwise. But I really try to make it as light and casual as possible. When I bumped into her at the store last weekend, she asked how I was doing (she'd just read a sad email I'd left her), and I told her I was fine, directed her to the almond milk that she was searching for, and then walked away. Sometimes I think I make the interaction overly-stilted, but I feel like I have to be careful not to overstep the boundary between us, to preserve the relationship. I do the same thing when we have yoga together. (But I have to admit that I like that she doesn't ignore me in class and has even helped me with the poses).

I know some people would never think to approach their therapist in public. I'm curious how widespread this is.

I have seen my T twice in public, and freaked out (internally) both times. I mentioned it to him the first time, and he said the same thing your T did about protecting my privacy by not approaching me. I thought that if it happened again I wouldn't feel so weird, but I still did. Each time I stopped what I was doing, turned the opposite way and became and Olympic speed walker. It's bound to happen again, (I live very close to where I go to t) so I hope that I am less anxious next time.

The first time I saw my T in public, I didn't realize there was a 'rule' against being friends in real life, so I just smiled at him and was like, "Hey, how's it going? This is my hubbie. Hubbie, this is T." And then we chatted about basketball and our kids -- because that's where we were -- high school basketball tournament.

Since then, I've seen him in public only at my father in law's funeral. I walked up to thank him for coming and he hugged me. Then I introduced him to my daughter.

So, each time, it's been nice, and fine, and perfectly pleasant. My t is amazing at making sure I'm comfortable.

We have never run into each other and never talked about it.

Prev t/pdoc has an office in my apartment building, so I run into him (or almost get run over by him) fairly regularly. Usually it's barely a nod, he's often on the phone. Sometimes i'll initiate a very short conversion.

I ran into my old work T from ten years ago just yesterday at the local art fair! We hugged, i told him about PC. It was great to see him!

Current t, I have seen a few times outdoors, and each time we became exponentially more familiar. To where next time, I think I will be able to just act normal

my actual brother, who is a T, used to have an office near where I once lived. I was out for a walk, saw him in his parking lot, waved and called his name. He got mad at me, he was worried about how his patients would react to seeing their T interacting with a crazy woman. Duh.

If I saw my T it would be no big deal. We have our sessions outside all around the city. We go to parks, in and out of stores like bagel stores or Starbucks, running errands like picking up his cats food at the vets, or his allergy meds at the pharmacy, or checking if his car was ready in the shop, my favorite is walking by the water though, we go all over really. It wouldn't phase either of us.

BUT if he was with his family I would not feel comfortable acknowledging him.

I have ignored my therapist at all costs and tried really hard to just act normal and totally oblivious to their presence.

It happened in a grocery store and I saw my T from behind. I tried to be brave and continue shopping, but I had to get out of there.

This made me laugh, Hankster!

thanks. I think I finally can, too - only took 20 years!

The day after I met T for the first time, I saw him at the gas station. I totally ignored him and pretended I didn't see him. Neither of us has ever said a thing about it. He lives fairly close to me so I expect to see him everywhere. I never have since.

Running into my T's has never really bothered me. We say "hi", maybe chit chat about what we're up to, and we go on our way. I guess I'm so used to running into my students, former students, their parents, etc. that it is just in the normal course of events for me to run into people I know out of context.

This is so interesting! I haven`t run into mine.. and I have no idea how she, or how I, would handle it. Makes me wonder about that now...

I don't usually recognize people out of context (co-workers, clients. students therapists are all not usually recognized by me at stores, coffeeshops, parks, restaurants, concerts or anywhere). And I cannot call up the therapist's visage in my head when I am not at the appointment. I would ignore the therapist if for some reason I did realize that is who she was.

The closest I've come to bumping into her, is I once saw her walking to her office when I had just parked to go to a session. I waited in my car.
I'm slightly horribly afraid of this occurring. She used to do yoga and often times when I bring it up she thinks out loud to herself that she needs to go again. And now she knows where I go. For the most part we like different types of classes but I'm still nervous to find her sitting in a class one day...and if she tried to help me I might accidentally kick her. I know by saying that it sounds premeditated, but I wouldn't want to...it just might happen

My therapist's "rule"--and I think this is pretty common--is that if we run into each other in public, he won't address me first but if I say hi to him he will respond. It hasn't happened yet, but I can't imagine having a problem saying hello unless he was clearly busy or something.

My Ts have explained if we bump into each other in public they will not extend the first hello due to professional integrity and protecting our / my privacy. I appreciate that very much.

If I see that my T is alone and ours paths cross, I definitely smile or say hello; however, if they are with others, I do not acknowledge. I don't want it to be awkward for them.

I've only seen my T once in public and one of my inner kids came out and screamed her name across the restaurant. I was horrified, as was she briefly, then smiled when she saw us.

My inner kids often think they spot T or her hubby in random places that she is not likely to be. They awkwardly have run up to strangers nearly tackling them before realizing it's not her...

I have seen her twice, we live in very small town! I was walking down the streetlight a friend and t is strolling towards me, I was so nervous but she just looked away didn't say hello! Than the other time, it was six in the morning and I was driving into town and t drove by, I had never seen her car before and she must have seen me because we were the only two cars on the road

And both times she was alone, so I am thinking she is single!

I have seen my T once. We made eye contact with each other and did a kinda nod to acknowledge each other and that was it. T mentioned it briefly in the next session, said it was nice to see me going about my daily life and was the way he dealt with it OK with me?

How do you not know this? Is this a new T? Talk about your blank slate T!

I've never known anything about my Ts' families or lack thereof. First T I saw for, er, about five or six months I think. Maybe a year. I really can't remember - it was in 2002, so quite a while ago now. Second T (whom I refer to as ex-T because I was still seeing her when I joined PC) I saw for seven months. I can't imagine current, new T telling me anything about his life either, and I'm sure others on the boards have said that they have Ts who don't disclose anything about their lives.

Anyway, first T, ten years ago, I used to run into in the street every now and then; we'd smile briefly and nod, same as with any acquaintance. Since my termination with her was very abrupt and without any closing session, I was always rather relieved that she didn't seem to bear a grudge. I haven't seen her for quite a while now though. Ex-T and current T I haven't met outside the T room; I imagine that I'd smile and nod at ex-T but wait for current T to acknowledge me first (which he probably wouldn't do).

Never seen my t outside of her office. Doesn't really surprise me though since I work at home and I really don't get out that much. If I did, I think I would feel comfortable with saying just a friendly "hi" and leaving it at that. Guess I won't know for sure though until/unless I actually do run into her someplace in public!

Its my old T, I really really don't know anything about her and it kills me lol... She is very religious has books about religion all over her house and does angel cards after every session.