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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu - really worried I’ve started a war

113 replies

joao2570 · 09/04/2025 21:06

so I met this woman I liked (we were both married). She was my therapist at the time and we ended up having a bit of a weird dynamic, nothing sexual happened but lines were definitely crossed, tbink whatsapping me hotels, trying to choose my nanny, wearing revealing clothing, asking me every week if I’d made my decision about leaving my husband, talking about trips we would take together etc. maybe we got a bit bffs maybe we were having an emotional affair. Idk.

My husband and I were in a very toxic relationship. He held me down and suffocated me. When I disclosed it to her, she encouraged me not to report and instead tried to help me to leave him on my terms - or so I thought.
It all came to a head. She had been encouraging me to take a trip away from my husband and children for my well-being. When I got back, my husband and I had another terrible fight and he really hurt me. I messaged her and got really angry with her. I told her I didn’t want her to be my therapist and blamed her for not reporting the initial violence. I said she had put me and my children at risk and threatened to report her. She apologised, said she had only been trying to help and then ghosted me.
A week or so later, I apologised and asked to see her again to sort it out (I felt like I’d blamed her for something that wasn’t really her fault). She ghosted me. I left my husbands, I tried to move on with my life and respected her wishes.

Five months later, she started popping up again in WhatsApp group chats (we are part of a small community, both our children were similar ages). One of them was a group for single mums. I just ignored her at first, thought she was just reintegrating in the community and tried to peacefully coexist.

Then she got weird. In a chat thread I’d already commented on, she posted about domestic violence, even though it hadn’t been explicitly mentioned. She encouraged someone to report domestic violence, the exact opposite of what she told me to do at the time. Unfortunately for her, it wasn’t in the vibe of the conversation and the other mothers shot her down. She ended up leaving this group in the end.

However she stayed in some other groups and then when my best friend asked for a recommendation, she told her to message her. This is when I snapped. I genuinely felt baited by this point - bff and I are publicly besties and everyone knows. There’s no way ex therapist couldn’t have.

I asked for a recommendation about something, framing it as a joke. I didn’t mention any names but it specifically pointed at something incriminating I knew she had done. Nobody else did and thought it was hilarious - I got a lot of laughing emoji reactions. I expected her to block me and leave the groups. She read the messages but didn’t do anything else.

My friend said that ex-therapist probably really liked me and wanted to check in on me. So I apologised and sent a very nice message to her, nothing incriminating, just offering peace and to clear the air if she wanted. She didn’t reply but on the same days is reading my group chat messages, as if to make a point of saying ‘I’m ignoring you.’ She hasn’t left groups, hasnt blocked me, hasnt sent a brief message saying ‘all good vibes let’s move on separately’ (which, considering the likelihood of bumping in to each other, imo would be the most professional thing to do).

Did I overreact in this situation? Have I been the asshole? Or was I justified? Do you think she will just ghost me again now or have I started a war? And am I being a complete drama llama about this whole thing in the first place?

OP posts:
ChompandaGrazia · 09/04/2025 23:34

joao2570 · 09/04/2025 23:31

Ok so I agree, and I was doubting myself. So I sent her an email about how much I adored my cleaner (a very hot 20 something who is like my surrogate daughter) to see how she would react and she tried to get me to sack her. She’d found Nannie’s and cleaners and was sending them to me via WhatsApp. I’m not even sure I was attracted to her. I certainly adored her as a person and valued her support.

completely agree though that the other things are all explainable. That’s why I said specifically I wasn’t sure whether we’d gotten to bffs or had an emotional affair. I just knew the dynamic was weird

a very hot 20 something who is like my surrogate daughter

Sorry but that comment is grim.

joao2570 · 09/04/2025 23:44

ChompandaGrazia · 09/04/2025 23:34

a very hot 20 something who is like my surrogate daughter

Sorry but that comment is grim.

I’m sorry should I have used the word beautiful? A bit millennial here with the language choices.
wouldn’t be offended if someone called me very hot 😂

OP posts:
menopausalfart · 09/04/2025 23:47

@joao2570 I think it's more the fact that you mention daughter and hot in the same sentence.

joao2570 · 09/04/2025 23:51

menopausalfart · 09/04/2025 23:47

@joao2570 I think it's more the fact that you mention daughter and hot in the same sentence.

Yes can see how that might have come across actually 🙄🤦‍♀️
to clarify - my cleaner is like my daughter in that I fuss over her if she leaves late and want her to get home safe. I am only 28 myself. We are very close but nothing weird has ever happened with us. I just think she’s a very beautiful person both inside and out. Should have chosen the word beautiful.

OP posts:
ChompandaGrazia · 09/04/2025 23:53

menopausalfart · 09/04/2025 23:47

@joao2570 I think it's more the fact that you mention daughter and hot in the same sentence.

It’s the say that she is like your daughter and then calling her hot. That’s really nasty. And what does her level of hotness have to do with her being a good cleaner. I think there is a lot going on with you being in a toxic relationship with a man but then lusting after your female therapist and cleaner!

joao2570 · 09/04/2025 23:56

ChompandaGrazia · 09/04/2025 23:53

It’s the say that she is like your daughter and then calling her hot. That’s really nasty. And what does her level of hotness have to do with her being a good cleaner. I think there is a lot going on with you being in a toxic relationship with a man but then lusting after your female therapist and cleaner!

I think you are reading a lot into this that isn’t there. I don’t lust after my cleaner - I just described her as hot because it’s a word I would use with lots of my female friends. Like you look 🔥 I didn’t lust after my therapist either. I just want a drama free life, live in a small community and don’t want to have started a war

OP posts:
Namechanged4obviousreasons · 10/04/2025 00:04

It seems like you’re actually enjoying the drama and hoping there’s something in it. Get a new therapist if you need one and block her…done.

Namechangean · 10/04/2025 00:05

ChompandaGrazia · 09/04/2025 23:14

I think you might have been reading far too much into the interactions between you. Suggesting hotels that you might like for a holiday is very different to suggesting hotels to go to together. What do you mean about ‘trying to choose your nanny’? Could she be wearing revealing clothes because she liked them? Asking if you have left your husband sounds like a normal thing for the therapist to ask.

The rest of it seems odd but I think the attraction might have been one sided.

I don’t think that’s really the point though, sharing hotels is inappropriate as it’s a professional relationship not a personal one. It’s a blurring boundaries to send messages like friends as OP has described. I’m not a therapist but I’m a professional with a regulatory body and I wouldn’t do that, as I damn sure would leave any WhatsApp groups with currrent or ex-clients in.

OPs also shown that she had crossed boundaries by trying to make her jealous and there was a toxic relationship forming, which I know can happen in these relationships, but the Therapist job to maintain appropriate boundaries

Ladamesansmerci · 10/04/2025 00:09

joao2570 · 09/04/2025 21:39

Yes exactly like that

OP, I'm a mental health nurse, and have also seen a private therapist for like 6 years. You sound very confused and I'm not surprised. It's absolutely normal ON YOUR BEHALF to experience some strange dynamics in therapy, be it you feel like your therapist is a parent figure, you view them romantically etc. A good therapist will maintain strong boundaries, and those feelings (called transference) can be used very productively in your therapy to help you reflect on past and present attachments/relationships in your real life. I experience a lot of strange feelings towards my therapist. I care about her a lot, and see her in a motherly way, which we discuss openly to explore my childhood. That's fine and a normal part of therapy.

Your therapist has crossed many boundaries. They have behaved in a very unethical way imo. Therapists shouldn't be recommending you hotels and sending WhatsApp messages outside of sessions. The only time I email my therapist is if I'm having some kind of mental health saga (but there is no expectation for her to respond) or to arrange sessions.

The most concerning part is that your husband committed a high risk assault (suffocation) and that she didn't safeguard it. She wouldn't necessarily need to for you as you're an adult with capacity, but you have children in the house, which makes it mandatory reporting!

All the ghosting etc is also unethical. Good endings (and conflict!) are an important part of therapy. An ethical therapist should not be hanging out in the same social WhatsApp groups as you!

Ladamesansmerci · 10/04/2025 00:12

Namechangean · 10/04/2025 00:05

I don’t think that’s really the point though, sharing hotels is inappropriate as it’s a professional relationship not a personal one. It’s a blurring boundaries to send messages like friends as OP has described. I’m not a therapist but I’m a professional with a regulatory body and I wouldn’t do that, as I damn sure would leave any WhatsApp groups with currrent or ex-clients in.

OPs also shown that she had crossed boundaries by trying to make her jealous and there was a toxic relationship forming, which I know can happen in these relationships, but the Therapist job to maintain appropriate boundaries

OP hasn't done anything wrong though. The point of therapy is often to sort through relational issues, and depending on the type of therapy, weird dynamics and conflict are very normal and helpful for the therapy! A good therapist maintains boundaries, explores them curiously, and will openly discuss what dynamics might be at play and why.

BoredZelda · 10/04/2025 00:14

findingnibbles · 09/04/2025 22:15

Clicked to check if it was Donald Trump posting.

Report her to the BACP.

Edited

Me too!

BoredZelda · 10/04/2025 00:18

Why don’t you just block her on WhatsApp?

Namechangean · 10/04/2025 00:23

Ladamesansmerci · 10/04/2025 00:12

OP hasn't done anything wrong though. The point of therapy is often to sort through relational issues, and depending on the type of therapy, weird dynamics and conflict are very normal and helpful for the therapy! A good therapist maintains boundaries, explores them curiously, and will openly discuss what dynamics might be at play and why.

That’s what I’m saying, it’s the therapists job to nip any boundary crossing relationship in the bud. It’s not unusual for people to form inappropriate attachments to their therapist but that’s what therapists are trained to prevent, but the therapist seemingly has encouraged something that to OP appeared to be an emotional affair and put her at risk

CinnamonJellyBeans · 10/04/2025 00:31

Well done for leaving your husband.

Now block this woman and try not to engage in any more drama by making oblique facebook comments that are designed to inflame the situation.

Drama is not good for you.

valentinka31 · 10/04/2025 00:41

joao2570 · 09/04/2025 23:31

Ok so I agree, and I was doubting myself. So I sent her an email about how much I adored my cleaner (a very hot 20 something who is like my surrogate daughter) to see how she would react and she tried to get me to sack her. She’d found Nannie’s and cleaners and was sending them to me via WhatsApp. I’m not even sure I was attracted to her. I certainly adored her as a person and valued her support.

completely agree though that the other things are all explainable. That’s why I said specifically I wasn’t sure whether we’d gotten to bffs or had an emotional affair. I just knew the dynamic was weird

I don't understand what you mean by an emotional affair.

And clearly you'd both gone out of the therapist bubble if you were sending her photos of your cleaner. I find it a bit strange you thought your cleaner hot. So what is the point? That you think your friend wanted you to sack her because she was jealous? About you?

It all seems like so much supposition, and so subjective and potentially just wrong.

She doesn't sound like a therapist though. I think the normal protocol would be that if she's in your social life outside therapy then she'd have to say sorry, I can't be your therapist as we know each other outside of therapy, but I can be your friend.

joao2570 · 10/04/2025 00:45

valentinka31 · 10/04/2025 00:41

I don't understand what you mean by an emotional affair.

And clearly you'd both gone out of the therapist bubble if you were sending her photos of your cleaner. I find it a bit strange you thought your cleaner hot. So what is the point? That you think your friend wanted you to sack her because she was jealous? About you?

It all seems like so much supposition, and so subjective and potentially just wrong.

She doesn't sound like a therapist though. I think the normal protocol would be that if she's in your social life outside therapy then she'd have to say sorry, I can't be your therapist as we know each other outside of therapy, but I can be your friend.

Edited

She knew my cleaner before… like I said it’s a very small community. I never told her I thought my cleaner was hot and I never sent her photos. I jisy told her I was very attached to her, that she was the most importantly woman in my life and I didn’t know how I’d cope without her if I left my husband.

I mean an emotional affair as towards the end she started to feel more like my girlfriend than my therapist. But nothing sexual happened

OP posts:
GripGetter · 10/04/2025 00:45

findingnibbles · 09/04/2025 22:15

Clicked to check if it was Donald Trump posting.

Report her to the BACP.

Edited

Ha. me too!

joao2570 · 10/04/2025 00:49

Thank you for all your comments, this has been very insightful. I am very confused about what happened and I definitely had become to think of ex therapist as a friend.

Im also very anxious from the divorce from my husband, it hasn’t been amicable so think I have been avoiding reporting due to the anxiety of having to face all of this.

i will report her tomorrow thank you 🙏

OP posts:
joao2570 · 10/04/2025 00:52

BoredZelda · 10/04/2025 00:18

Why don’t you just block her on WhatsApp?

Because even if I do that she can still see my WhatsApp group messages and I can still see hers. I’m super worried about what she might be saying to people.

OP posts:
Fraaances · 10/04/2025 01:07

If this woman was a boyfriend or husband, he’d be considered controlling, creepy and manipulative. She was your therapist and her advice was fucking dangerous AS WELL as breaching professional codes of conduct. Definitely needs to be reported.

TheSlantedOwl · 10/04/2025 01:38

All very creepy.

ASimpleLampoon · 10/04/2025 03:27

joao2570 · 09/04/2025 22:28

No an actual bps therapist.

a bit shocked by everyone telling me to report. This woman has children. I don’t want to put them through this.

She abused you at a time you were vulnerable. She used her position to do so. She is a predator and needs reporting as other families could be at risk.

I am so sorry OP.

SpidersAreShitheads · 10/04/2025 03:37

ChompandaGrazia · 09/04/2025 23:53

It’s the say that she is like your daughter and then calling her hot. That’s really nasty. And what does her level of hotness have to do with her being a good cleaner. I think there is a lot going on with you being in a toxic relationship with a man but then lusting after your female therapist and cleaner!

I agree. It really comes across that the OP is attracted to women, even if that’s subconsciously.

I won’t repeat what others have said but everything about this is off. I can’t even imagine how you reached the point of messaging your therapist about another woman that you find attractive, raving about how special she is, just to see if you make your therapist jealous.

Reading between the lines here, there sounds like a lot of projection going on here but your therapist has made professional mistakes too. No one comes out of this well. Other than the cleaner 😂🤷‍♀️

SabreTiger · 10/04/2025 05:14

I haven’t read all your responses however she crossed the line.

You as her patient/client were vulnerable and for you being able to open up parts of your life to someone “safe”, can sometimes lead to you caring a lot for this person. But it’s her job as the professional to uphold the boundaries and not go into the grey area.

Your situation and trust of her opinion put you and your children in more danger. She abused her position in your life.

Reporting her will put her in a position where she has to reflect on her behavior and handling of this situation. It may also save another vulnerable person from danger.

SabreTiger · 10/04/2025 05:18

joao2570 · 10/04/2025 00:52

Because even if I do that she can still see my WhatsApp group messages and I can still see hers. I’m super worried about what she might be saying to people.

If she is speaking to people about you, this will reflect on her so negatively as a therapist.

If anything comes back to you, report it.

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