Therapists feel a range of emotions toward clients—from disgust to lust. Its natural for therapists to feel attraction, says Shaw. We do experience an emotional intimacy with our clients.

Are people attracted to their therapists?

Of the 585 psychologists who responded, 87% (95% of the men and 76% of the women) reported having been sexually attracted to their clients, at least on occasion. More men than women gave “physical attractiveness” as the reason for the attraction, while more women therapists felt attracted to “successful” clients.

When you are attracted to your therapist?

Be completely honest and transparent. If you start developing feelings for your therapist, tell him or her about it. “Be honest with yourself and with your therapist,” Scharf says. “Your therapist could talk those feelings through with you, what they mean and how to manage them.

Why do so many people see therapists?

Many younger people pursue therapy as another form of self-improvement and personal growth, not unlike yoga, meditation or “preventive Botox.” (A 2015 survey by the research firm Field Agent found that millennials spend $300 a month on such pursuits.) Some millennials also use life coaches.

What is it called when you are attracted to your therapist?

There is actually a term in psychoanalytic literature that refers to a patients feelings about his or her therapist known as transference,1 which is when feelings for a former authority figure are transferred onto a therapist. Falling in love with your therapist may be more common than you realize.