Seeing your T out in the "real world!"

With my ex T on my initiative we discussed how I should react if I saw her somewhere. She basically said what other people's therapists said: she wouldn't acknowledge me first due to confidentiality issues. Except for on the street just before my session we never ran into each other. Current T: his office is across the street from my apartment. I told him that in my initial email but it didn't seem to bother him. The day I started contacting new therapists my arthritis was acting up so I went for the closest one that looked likely. My window faces the entrance to his building and I idly look out a lot so I've seen him from my window twice. He knows about the first time and it didn't bother him. So I might well meet him on the street.

I worked at an office job with someone who was a trainee therapist. Once when she was out with friends and had a drink she saw a client and that upset her because he was in recovery and she felt like she should be a role model even though she didn't have a problem with alcohol. My guess is that with more experience she relaxed more, though.

From what I learned in school if the client ackowledge you first then it's okay to say hello. If you see the client and they don't ackowledge you then ignore them.

I've never seen the counsellor outside of the office. I know the counsellor would ask how I am doing, he's just too caring to dismiss me. If I ever run into him, it's not a big deal I understand he has a life and family outside of his work.