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Writer's pictureDr. Kalen D. Zeiger

So You Saw Your Therapist at Pride

Updated: Aug 10, 2023

The queer community is amazing. Our ability to create chosen families and social support structures is one of the greatest strengths of our population.

But sometimes the queer community can seem like a very small world, especially in less that progressive locals. As a result, you may run into you therapist at pride or in another community space if you and your therapist are both active in the queer community. I'm a queer therapist who works with queer clients, and I have definitely found myself in the same queer spaces as clients. The good news is that we have a plan for that.


When you did intake for therapy, you probably signed a lot intake paperwork. Somewhere in that paperwork there was likely a notice like this one:


If we see each other accidentally outside of the therapy office, I will not acknowledge you first. Your right to privacy and confidentiality is of the utmost importance to me, and I do not wish to jeopardize your privacy. However, if you acknowledge me first, I will be more than happy to speak briefly with you, but feel it appropriate not to engage in any lengthy discussions in public or outside of the therapy office.


This just means that as a therapist I'm not going to out my client as someone I am providing services to or acknowledge I know them. And it won't be because I don't like them, it is because I want to protect my client's right to confidentiality first and foremost. As the client, you are free to pretend you don't even know your therapist. If you approach your therapist to to say hello, your therapist is likely to engage only briefly with you.


So if you see your therapist at pride, just take a breath and keep being yourself. HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!

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