Got an evite to a party from a former couples therapist from years ago

[Anonymous]

I received an evite to a book launch party from a former couples therapist I saw with ex-spouse a decade or so ago. He didn't really help us (ex was having an affair) but seemed well meaning, I may have recommended him a few times on here to people looking for someone in MoCo.

At first I thought maybe his account was compromised and thought there would be an email to that effect, but no. Seems like a weird boundary crossing to me, is this considered a way to fill social events now? Seems so awkward. I haven't seen a therapist in a few years, maybe I'm out of touch with current ethics?

[Anonymous]

It’s a professional event designed to sell books. He probably invited all his former clients.

[Anonymous]

At this point, you can go or don't go. It's really that simple.

[Anonymous]

I would assume it was an accident. That your name or email address is similar to the person they meant to invite.

[Anonymous]

He wants bums on seats and people buying his books. You really are over analyzing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a professional event designed to sell books. He probably invited all his former clients.

This. It's not a party, it's a book launch. Two different things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a professional event designed to sell books. He probably invited all his former clients.

This. Just click No if you don't want to attend.

[Anonymous]

It's a book launch, not a party.

[Anonymous]

probably the "human error" glitch where someone accidentally sends an invite to their entire contacts list.

ex :
https://www.today.com/parents/moms/birthday-party-invitation-contact-list-rcna147366

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:probably the "human error" glitch where someone accidentally sends an invite to their entire contacts list.

ex :
https://www.today.com/parents/moms/birthday-party-invitation-contact-list-rcna147366

Yup, probab,y this. I just got an evite from someone I have neither seen nor heard from in 13 years but I just assumed I was somehow still in her email and évite grabbed everyone.

[Anonymous]

As others have said- it is a professional event, not a social event. You did not receive the invite by accident and it was not inappropriate for the therapist to send it.

[Anonymous]

OP - I've known people who pay cash for therapy, concerned about privacy, clearances, etc. Making the professional relationship public unilaterally for his own mercenary reasons was unexpected in the era of HIPPA releases, etc. It feels a wee bit exploitative as well. Although, I'm sure some of the invitees may be neighbors and the like.

If this is now considered an accepted practice, perhaps I won't share an email with a future therapist for billing use. I have never received a social event invite from any other medical provider.

I would have perceived an email about the book launch differently than a fairly public invite to a public event. This guy used to talk a LOT about boundaries and so this was very unexpected. Invitees were public.

Initially I thought it must be a glitch of some sort but there was no follow up email apologizing as is usual in that circumstance. So the PP who said it was likely not in error is probably correct.

I was considering returning to therapy re: an extended family issue, but now I'm wondering how to pick someone since I feel I misjudged this guy. I had even thought of returning to his practice. At a difficult time I had relied on his advice/guidance re: the wellbeing of my kids and now I wonder if that was naive trust. My interpretation of his "boundaries" focus was not in line with his, apparently. Nor was my understanding of professional relationship disclosure for commercial purposes. If it was just about the party invite I would have marked it as spam and moved on, but now I'm questioning my judgement of people and understanding of norms in that field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a professional event designed to sell books. He probably invited all his former clients.

This. It's not a party, it's a book launch. Two different things.

It still seems like a unilateral disclosure of a sensitive professional relationship for his commercial purposes.

[Anonymous]

I would consider this a massive breach of ethics. Especially if the guest list is public!! But even if not, he should clearly state that it’s a party for a book launch and that all former clients are invited, not make vulnerable people think that they’re being invited to a social event when that clearly (to the rest of us) is not the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider this a massive breach of ethics. Especially if the guest list is public!! But even if not, he should clearly state that it’s a party for a book launch and that all former clients are invited, not make vulnerable people think that they’re being invited to a social event when that clearly (to the rest of us) is not the case.

OP Thanks. I did not mistake it for a social/romantic invitation. It felt like a different type of breach of professional ethics and a public disclosure of a therapeutic relationship without my consent in hopes of gaining $$$. For a guy who talked extensively about boundaries it felt extra unexpected. I can imagine that there are people who saw it as a different type of predatory invite or who might feel compelled to go and purchase due to the nature of the relationship. Just icky on many levels.

And it has me really questioning my judgement of people and professional norms for therapeutic relationships.