As friends, therapists come with many benefits but also challenges.

Therapists can cultivate deep connections and may expect this of their friends.

Therapists sometimes behave like therapists in their professional lives.

The therapy approach of therapists may be reflected in their interpersonal styles.

I once met a man who learned I was a psychologist and said, “I dated a therapist. I miss our deep conversations.” My husband affirmed this observation—yes, our talks were atypical. This prompted me to consider the unique qualities of having a therapist as a friend.

When I meet new people and they learn what I do, some gravitate to me, and others run the other way. One friend collected friends who were therapists, and another was anxious that I might analyze her. What do these encounters reveal about the benefits and challenges of having a therapist for a friend?

Perhaps a professional hazard is that I crave depth from my conversations with others and often take the lead in a conversation. This could simply reflect my own inclinations and disposition. I am more of an open book than other therapists I know. I push myself to take risks in becoming vulnerable in order to create intimacy. In contrast, I know other therapists who adopt a “blank slate” role in their social exchanges and do not expose themselves so readily.

In this sense, my therapy approach is reflected not only in my work........

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