Ask Julie: I'm Sexually Attracted To My Therapist

Okay, so recently I started getting therapy for a few issues in my life and I have this therapist. Obviously, it's their job to listen and what not, but it's such a new thing for me to have someone listen and understand!! I have normal relationships and what not, but I don't talk about what's going on in my life. And well, like I said, this therapist, he listens!! And I don't know how it started, but now I'm attracted to him and think about him all the time. Yikes! And I had therapy the other day and I was feeling a bit awkward sometimes because in my head I was thinking about him sexually!! And he was right there in front of me. Not good but so good at the same time! But yeah nothing will happen anyway because 1. he's my therapist and that goes against code and 2. he's married anyway. But it doesn't stop me from thinking about him that way. I don't know if I have control over my actions but don't want to lose him as a therapist! And if I ask him for help about it, I guess I probably will. I can't ask anyway... too awkward. And I don't want to start again with a new therapist. So please give me some ideas! Oh, and if this helps in anyway, I have bipolar.... but I guess I'm not the first person in the world to be attracted to my therapist so maybe it doesn't! (18 year old female who recently started therapy)

A: How wonderful that you are able to open up to your therapist and feel listened to. You are not alone in having a sexual attraction to your therapist and there's a name for it -- erotic transference -- and it's actually a quite common experience in therapy.  Transference can be worked through in the therapeutic relationship and that process can help you experience and resolve the deeper issues in your life. I hear that you are afraid of losing this relationship if you disclose your feelings to your therapist and that you'll have to start all over.  Assuming your therapist is skilled and experienced, he will be able to help you work through this attraction.  Start slow in sharing your feelings. Let him know that you're scared to share these feelings and that you want help to understand what they really mean.  When sharing your transference with your therapist, remember that your feelings are information about your deeper emotional longings, wounds, and needs, and are not about your actual relationship with your therapist. You'll get through this. Thanks again for having the courage to write to "Ask the Therapist."Take good care of yourself!Julie Hanks, LCSW