How would you feel about someone you know wanting to see the same therapist?

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I would not do it!! Someone I know found out who I was seeing and they started to see MY therapist behind my back. Then they asked my T questions about ME!! Of all the nerve!! They got the dirt on me and spread it around to all my friends and family! It was a disaster. Don't give your T's name to anyone!!

I would not share. In most highly populated areas at least there are many other therapists available.

Small town here and no T would have a viable practice without having many ties between clients.

Generally, it is not a problem, but in one case, when I was seeing my old, cold distant T, a friend of mine started seeing him too! It was a bit awkward, but ultimately okay and actually helped me process the feelings that led to my termination from this T.

I think this is only as problematic as we *make* it. The confidentiality can work both ways. Even on this board, it's not my intent to "out" my T.

I agree with this. I'm not in a small town, but our town is a bit therapist-poor. Just not that many options unless you choose to drive down into the city which just isn't workable for many people. So, yes, it is pretty common that a therapist in our town will have clients that know each other; it's just kind of unavoidable particularly when you start figuring insurance availability, etc. into the mix.

So, yes, I am very aware that my therapist has clients that I probably know. Sometimes I'm aware of specifically who they are because I actually run into them there. I've even run into a couple of my own students who were seeing him. It just is what it is. It's never been a problem of confidentiality. Maybe a bit of awkwardness initially, but that was easily overcome. It wasn't like we were in therapy "about" each other, so it was pretty much a non-issue.

I have recommended my T a few times. I have no idea if those people went to see him or not. If they did and it was helpful -- great. If they didn't, that's okay to. Not really my business one way or another.

I found my T through a mutual friend/coworker. Finding a good therapist is hard! Of course I'm going to ask for recommendations from people I trust. And I have since recommended her to other friends. I think it's wonderful to make help someone else find a resource.

As far as privacy weirdness: No one is ever under any expectations to talk abut their own therapy with anyone else. I would never expect my friend to discuss her therapy with me and vice versa. If I felt uncomfortable with the topic coming up, I would simply say as much.
So I don't see a problem with seeing the same person.

A therapist has boundaries between clients. Period. So that's not an issue for me either.

I'm also all for removing the stigma in mental health. I don't mind people I know knowing I'm seeing therapist for emotional health, anymore than they might know I go to the gym for my physical health. I talk about therapy with my friends and coworkers —*not in detail, mind— but in general terms because I see no shame in it.

I know for a fact that one of my friends has been helped a great deal by my own recommendation. I'm glad for that.