EP 3
My Client is Dating My Ex
The file
Imagine sitting across from your client as she tells you all about the new guy she’s falling for… only to slowly realize you know exactly who he is. Because you used to date him. In this episode of TherapyFiles, a therapist finds herself in an ethical situation she never expected: her client is dating her ex. As the client begins bringing their relationship problems into therapy—and even starts talking about his ex without realizing she’s sitting right in front of her—the lines between personal history and professional responsibility become harder to ignore. Should the therapist tell her? Should she transfer her care? Can she truly remain objective? And what happens when the therapist genuinely likes this client and doesn’t want their therapeutic relationship to end?
More from the archive
EP 4
She Found Her Voice File: 004
She Found Her Voice She was 15 when her mom noticed something had changed. She stopped spending time with her friends, her grades started slipping, and she wanted nothing to do with therapy. What no one knew was that she was carrying something she was terrified to say out loud. In this episode of TherapyFiles, one girl shares how she went from barely being able to say, “Something happened,” to finding the courage to tell the truth. With the support of her therapist and her mom, speaking up eventually leads to another person coming forward—and to the person who hurt her being held accountable. This is a story about fear, self-blame, finding your voice, and learning that you don't need the perfect words to ask for help. Sometimes speaking up starts with just two words: something happened.
EP 2
The Client Who Changed the Therapist
What happens when a therapist starts to wonder if therapy is even working? In this episode of TherapyFiles, we follow the story of a therapist and a client whose progress was anything but straightforward. There were setbacks, frustration, a session that went too far, and eventually… three months of silence. But when the client came back, something had changed. This story is a reminder that progress doesn't always look like progress—and sometimes, the people we think we're helping end up teaching us something too. Because maybe you're listening. Maybe you're changing. Maybe you're just not ready yet.
EP 1
The Bill Nobody Expected File: 001
What happens when a client does everything they think they're supposed to do, checks their insurance, asks if their therapist is covered, and starts treatment, only to receive an unexpected bill for nearly $800? In the first episode of TherapyFiles, we open a case inspired by real situations witnessed behind the scenes in mental-health operations. A confusing insurance denial quickly turns into a conflict between a client, a therapy practice, and an insurance company with everyone getting different answers about who is responsible. But when the client's frustration escalates into a message that leaves the therapist feeling unsafe, the situation becomes about much more than a bill. Who failed whom? The practice, the insurance company, the client, or a system that's far more complicated than most people realize? Listen to the full file and decide for yourself. Names, identifying details, and certain elements have been changed or combined to protect privacy. TherapyFiles is for education and discussion and does not provide therapy or clinical advice.
Contribute
Send us a file
Every episode starts with something somebody sent in. Anonymous by default — the form asks for no name, and your email address is optional.