Therapists generally have different perspectives on whether patients asking questions about their lives and families is appropriate or beneficial during therapy sessions. The boundaries and guidelines for sharing personal information can vary depending on the therapist's training, theoretical orientation, and the therapeutic approach they use.
In traditional psychotherapy, therapists typically maintain a professional boundary and keep the focus on the patient's life and experiences. This is because the therapeutic relationship is designed to provide a safe and supportive space for the patient to explore their thoughts, emotions, and concerns without the therapist's personal life being a part of the equation.
However, there are also therapeutic approaches, such as some forms of relational or humanistic therapies, where the therapist's self-disclosure might be considered more acceptable or even beneficial to the therapeutic process. In these cases, sharing some personal information might help establish trust, normalize experiences, or model healthy ways of relating.
If a patient is curious about their therapist's life or background, it's generally acceptable for them to bring up such questions during therapy. However, the therapist will likely redirect the focus back to the patient's experiences and explore why the patient has a curiosity about the therapist's life.
Ultimately, the therapeutic relationship is meant to be primarily about the patient's growth and healing. Any self-disclosure from the therapist is done with careful consideration of its potential impact on the therapeutic process.
If you have questions about your therapist's boundaries or approach to self-disclosure, it's okay to discuss it with them during a session. A therapist should be open to discussing these topics and explaining their rationale for the approach they take in therapy. Having an open conversation about the therapeutic process can strengthen the therapeutic relationship and help ensure that you are getting the most out of your therapy sessions.