There is often a stigma surrounding mental health and the idea of seeing a therapist. Some people view seeing a therapist as a bit taboo. What many people may not realize is that so many people who you may never expect may be seeing a therapist for a variety of reasons.
When someone decides to mention that they are considering seeing a therapist to their friends, they may even receive the surprising response of that friend recommending you to use the therapist that they use themselves. So, that then begs the question, is it a good or bad idea to see the same therapist as your friend? There are definitely both pros and cons with the decision of using the same therapist as your friend.
One of the most obvious pros is that this therapist has genuinely helped your friend, giving them credibility that they will be able to help you with your issues as well. Another pro is that sometimes searching for a therapist can be a really long, daunting, and stressful process because you don’t know exactly which therapist will be the best in terms of helping you out. Going to a therapist that was recommended by a trusted friend will probably alleviate a decent amount of that stress that you may be going through when searching for a therapist on your own.
There are a few cons to using the same therapist as your friend too. One con, in particular, is that if anything were to happen between you and your friend or there was any sort of drama that included you both or people in the same social circle, you’ll never truly know what information about you was disclosed to your therapist by your friend and that may be a bit concerning.
So, it is ultimately your decision on whether or not you want to use the same therapist as a close friend or even a family member. Think about all of the pros and be wary of the cons in order to come up with a decision that is best for you.