Unsolicited psychological advice from a therapist?

[Narkos]

Just got back from a family get to together. One of my mother's friends is a practicing psychologist who apparently has a history of "stirring the pot". I didn't witness this, but she made a comment to one of my aunts about her body language in response to an encounter, and how she thought it was interesting since she's a psychologist, and she would like to speak with my aunt about this behavior at a later time. Is it me, or is this totally out of line, not to mention potentially unethical for a licensed provider to be dispensing advice or evaluations to people they don't know and are not their patients? At first I thought, no big deal. But apparently she's done this before, almost like she's on some kind of power trip. Any thoughts?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Narkos...

I'm no therapist, but she sounds a bit aggressive to me.

Family gatherings are NOT the place for this sort of thing.

Really!

Good luck...

[asdjrocky]

2. I would say pleas speak to me later.

I'll bend over and let you say it right into my ass. My opinion it was way out of line.

[Narkos]

5. LOL! I'll have to use that sometime. n/t

[asdjrocky]

6. Feel free. I just made it up.

[mnhtnbb]

3. As the wife of a psychiatrist/psychoanalyst, let me say that the the proper

response to the psychologist would have been "if I'm interested in an evaluation of my behavior,
I will seek my own clinician at a later time."

The friend was WAY out of line and if she continues to "ambulance chase" she will soon find herself
never invited to social gatherings. Many people tend to be self-conscious when introduced to any
kind of psychotherapist for precisely this reason: they fear they are being analyzed/evaluated
and it tends to inhibit people from being themselves.

[Narkos]

7. I almost jumped in and said something to that effect

Next time I definitely will. I just would love to understand how someone who is supposedly a professional gets off in playing games in a social milieu.

[david13]

4. I don't know. Maybe auntie just has something to hide. dc

[EFerrari]

8. Invasive as hell. What an @sshole.

[woo me with science]

9. Shouldn't be doing therapy...

like so many others out there.

[Skittles]

10. that gal would have no problem reading my body language

(my foot connecting with her ass); yes INDEED

[elleng]

11. Power trip or soliciting business, she's out of line and unethical.

[rurallib]

12. "What do these two middle fingers tell you?"

makes me think of Tim Taylor's wife on "Home Improvement"

[MilesColtrane]

13. I'd ask her to interpret this body language.

[Narkos]

19. LOL!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

14. sounds like she needs to take a chill pill -- I would have offered her

another drink .... :)

[AngryAmish]

15. Psychologists/therapists tend to be an odd bunch

Yes, they were on a power trip.

[raccoon]

16. Maybe she's trying to drum up some business? Psychologists/counselors in

my area are hurting for patients right now.

I agree, it was way out of line at a social occasion.

[tigereye]

17. sounds like a boundary issue - she may not have a good sense of where

the "line" is. Most people in that profession avoid "fishing" for more work when they are at social gatherings or among friends, because that could constitute a dual relationship. It's one thing if a stranger or acquaintance asks for a business card after hearing someone is in the field, but otherwise... more complicated.

[Narkos]

18. I get the sense that it's more a power trip here

my aunt was from out of town, so it's doubtful she was looking for more clients

[tigereye]

20. usually folks in the field try to avoid giving "free advice"

but people just love to tell you all kinds of stuff if you are "in the field." :D