When is it good to know your Therapist's age

I think it depends, I like that my disability lawyer has decades of experience in appealing SSI and SSD claims, but I think that with a Therapist it would mean that they would too old for me to feel a personal connection.

Also this hasn't just been in my adult years when I was in Elementary School I went to (and hated) a weekly group therapy for young children for several years and the person who headed up the whole thing was very old (close to 60) and actually had a son who was about 25 years older than me. I also felt no real connection to the Therapists (and I saw quite a few) that I saw when I was in school (Elementary, Junior and Senior High) however most of those Therapists I estimate where in their 30s or 40s and while I didn't connect with those people at the time due to my age difference I do now connect with people those ages since I am now older, so the older I get the age that I connect most with increases.

I *must* have a T that is older than me, by quite a bit. I am 21 years old and I first saw a T at my college that was probably in her late 20s/early 30s and I felt like she was really inexperienced and just not mature enough for me. My T that I've been seeing for a couple years now is probably in her early 50s (same age range as my mom). I think part of it is having someone who can fit a maternal role for me...not that I want them to be my mom, but I need someone who I know is an "adult" in my mind and seemingly has an ability to take care of things, kind of like a mother would. I have a lot of issues with my own mother...so I think that definitely transfers over into T. She doesn't mother me by any means but she makes me feel heard and understood, especially my "child" parts which is really necessary for me.

There are diverse opinions about this. Here is mine. The therapists I see and have been comfortable with are over 60, which I believe is when they are at their prime in this field.

It takes a clinician at least a decade to be sure of him/herself and for a certain level of sophistication, proficiency, and well-rounded judgment and decision-making. At least that is what the very experienced ones tell me. I think lack of experience is ok with many issues, but not for certain trauma patients. Although you have to get the experience somehow...that's how it is in many other professions too.

I can't imagine why a therapist wouldn't tell a client how old they are. I mean...what would be the reason behind that? If the age is an issue, it's just something else that can be talked about and worked through during a session.

Some therapists may have issues dealing with their own age (and perhaps therefore their mortality?). Just a thought...

Although the bigger issue with Therapists that old is that they will likely be retiring in just a few years which will force you to see another Therapists, and if you are only comfortable with those over 60 than you will likely being doing that every few years.

I think the same thing, plus it is not like the last Therapist who I saw was that old (she was 26).

Likely true! But isn't the 60s the new 50s??

In all seriousness though, there is a community of psychoanalysts out there practicing well into their 70s and even 80s. My current T said he has no plans to retire (i asked).

The ones I see are in the 70ish range. They both work part time in their own offices.

WOW didn't think they were that old, but whatever works for you, the only person that old who I feel a good connection to is my grand aunt (who is actually in her 80s).

Interesting thread.

I would not contemplate working with a really young therapist - for me that means probably under 25. Any other age, I'd try to keep an open mind and give it a go. But my core belief is I work best with women a few years older. I'm 28, my T is mid thirties and it feels right, and a school counsellor I really liked and clicked with was late thirties/ early forties.

I wish i didn't know my t's age.

As soon as I knew.. the words 'retirement' filtered into our conversations.

I agree, mine is almost 50 and she loves her job so much I can easily see her working into her 90s if her health allows it! Haha

-Hope

But they should know well enough to keep their issues out of the session, which is why I wonder why any therapist would be so "against" revealing their age. It's not like you've asked for a medical history or their personal life. It's just a simple fact. I kind of feel like it's the client's right to know this basic info - just like the qualifications a T has.

I can see young therapists wanting to hide their age to clients to keep people from questioning their ability based solely on age.