Therapist keeps asking for photographs?

[RhapsodyinBlue2]

I started therapy three years ago, after my husband died, and my therapist has always been there for me, which I really appreciate. But she regularly asks for photographs, for example, of my children. And now I have started a new relationship, very early days, and stirring up a lot of emotions for me, although he is genuinely lovely and caring - and she keeps asking for a photograph of him. He is a very private person and I am not really comfortable at sharing a photo and I just say I idon't have one - but also thinking is this normal?

The obvious question is….why? Have you asked?

It's absolutely not appropriate for your therapist to be asking for photographs. In what context does she do it? Does she give a reason for asking?

What's preventing you from telling the therapist how you feel about it sharing photos?

What type of therapy is it?

I would find this strange too and wouldn’t want to share photographs.

What type of therapy?

Sounds very inappropriate to me.

No it is not normal.
You should ask her "why do you need photographs?"

Then find a different therapist.

I had therapy on and off for 5 years with the same person. She never asked much of anything about my partner or children, other than occasionally asking safeguarding questions relating to whether my parents were ever allowed near them (no they weren't).
This would be ringing lots of alarm bells about crossing boundaries.

Maybe it's time to re-assess if you still need therapy.

What's the reason they are giving for needing the photos?

This seems incredibly inappropriate to me. I would be looking for a new therapist.

I think she believes that she can understand the situation better if she can see images of the people involved.

No I don't think this is normal. Even if it helps her I don't think its appropriate and especially as you are uncomfortable about it. Is she registered with a professional body? Or was your therapy arranged through an organisation?

That doesn't sit right with me at all.

No that's red flag territory.
Is this alternative healing/therapy?

I think it's weird, too. I've done 10+years of therapy with six different therapists; none of them asked about the people in my life other than their relationships with me. You obviously don't need a photograph to discuss your feelings about them or describe something they said/did.

She must be asking for photos to meet her own needs, whatever they might be. She shouldn't do that. If she can't 'therapise' without visual aids, that's her problem. You're not there to feed her needs, and I think you should switch to someone else.

No, it's not alternative therapy and she is registered, I believe. Thank you so much for your replies. I am just not comfortable with sharing some things, even though I tell her pretty much everything. I would prefer to keep the actual images private even if I am open about my feelings and reactions.

I'd consider informing her professional body, then, @RhapsodyinBlue2.

That sounds either 1/weird or 2/utter bollocks.

Highly inappropriate.

Ridiculous

Agree. I'm training to be a therapist and this doesn't sound right at all, in fact it's pretty concerning. She might need some further training if she's doing this. It doesn't sit right with me.
And obviously stand your ground on the photos. But I'd also be looking to switch therapists asap.

Due to data protection she should not be asking for photographs. Just say you do not have any.

Benefit of the doubt: maybe she feels it would help her to keep track of names in your story if she can put a face to the names? If so, merely showing her a picture would suffice. I wouldn't want to send her photos.

Well that's a load of bollocks, isn't it?

A photograph of someone only tells you anything about who they are if the photograph has them holding up a sign describing themselves.

Oh, I can see he's got brown hair, this means he's more short tempered. Ah yes, above average height. This means they prefer to have early nights on Tuesdays.

Your therapist is a moron.