Man believes ex's therapist is using unethical practices, therapist is outwardly unkind to him in public: 'Everytime therapist spots me in public she has to give me dirty looks'

Author image for Baiz Hoen
Baiz Hoen
Jan 26, 2025 12:00 AM EST

One of the better changes our world has seen is the acceptance of mental health issues as real and the destigmatization of mental illness in turn. True, there's still a lot that needs to be improved, but it's comforting to know that people can seek the help they need more openly now than ever before. More and more, people are talking about their feelings, going to therapy, and getting the help they need. With any medical practice, however, there is a chance that you can receive some bad advice. Since "going to therapy" is a relatively new concept, it feels like a net good thing when someone goes to any form of therapy. But there are quacks in the psych profession as well. And if you find yourself with a therapist who enables your behavior rather than get to the root of it, you might be in greater trouble than when you first arrived at their office.

One man witnessed this firsthand when his ex's therapist became a little too involved in her life. He came to Reddit to discuss whether the therapist's actions were truly unethical and sought help from other Redditors to help him decide. Read on to see where you fall.


 

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  • 01
    HOW ARE YOU, REALLY? OVERALL MURALS
    via Mitch
  • 02

    "AITAH for calling my exs therapist unethical?"

    For context towards the end of our relationship it was getting rough and she asked me to go to couples therapy with her but seeing her therapist and I refused to see her therapist bc I never agreed with her policy on marijuana use and adhd. I believe
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 03
    marijuana use and adhd. I believe the two do not go hand in hand and smoking everyday is very dangerous to do when you are adhd and medicated for it and when a therapist advises you that it's okay to do anyway even though there has been countless studies showing that heavy chronic use of marijuana mimics the effects of adhd on a person.
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 04
    This therapist is younger and judging by who she hangs out with in the community I can see she takes things a very "cali sober" type approach to things.
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 05
    Do not get me wrong everything in moderation is great but when you can't go even a few hours without smoking there is a problem. Mind you this is all in a state that it is not yet legalized in.
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 06
    My ex had a very huge problem when it came to being high constantly and her therapist imo encouraged her addiction (unethical). Fast forward ex and I have been broken up for a while now. Therapist is very involved
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 07
    now. Therapist is very involved with the local community as am I so occasionally we will see each other at local events or common areas. Without fail everytime therapist spots me in public she has to give me dirty looks every 10 minutes for the duration of whatever said event (unethical imo) Ex has a new bf, new bf is someone who I recognize from therapist's social media. A lot of
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 08
    therapist's social media. A lot of their post together is like close friend intimate hangouts. What I find unethical about that is how can a therapist have such a close. friend dating one of her clients?
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 09
    Idk I might be reading too much into it but it's really been bothering me lately going out into public and getting the nastiest looks from her. The art community where I live is very small and she is a part of it so it makes those events very uncomfortable for me to attend and lately has been making me just wanting to shy away from them altogether.
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 10

    On to the comments!

    Cheezburger Image 10456541440
    via Amelia Bartlett
  • 11
    NTA. But for your own mental health there seems to be a whole lot here that you need to let go of. It's going to be hard within a small community where you will be running into each other. But you need to take care of your own peace of mind and let whatever is happening over there remain over there.
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 12
    The nasty looks: somewhere between unethical and questionable, potentially reportable to the licensing board, as is the enabling of addiction and encouragement of criminal activity.
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 13
    Having a friend date a client: not unethical. Professional ethics do not extend to controlling the choices of people you happen to know.
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 14
    I'd go and talk to the therapist and bowl her over with your positivity, tell her how happy you are for your ex and her new relationship. If she wants to have a problem with you after that, let her.
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 15

    Pretty solid, straightforward advice.

    NTA. But move on buddy. Stop thinking about your ex and her therapist.
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 16
    NTA Contact your local state medical and licensing bodies and report the therapist for unethical and illegal practices (shouldn't be advocating criminal activities (smoking w d) as coping mechanisms).
    via Upstairs-Budget8903
  • 17

    Seems a bit unnecessary but go off I guess

    Maybe the local police might be interested in the "pot den" of a therapists office. Does client confidentiality remain if the office is used for illegal activities?
    via Upstairs-Budget8903

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Dating-Relationships therapist aita art AITAH ex girlfriend therapy reddit story Reddit
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