?Do you give gifts to therapist and psychiatrist?

amother

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 10:57 am

I just started a month ago
if you do give gifts what do you give?
they get plenty of money already for my visits?
male psychiatrist
female therapist

amother

Blue

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 10:58 am

No way Jose

amother

Pewter

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 10:59 am

Generally, no. Most won't accept gifts. After seeing my amazing psychiatrist for more than a year, I started occasionally bringing homemade baked goods (in plastic bags and aluminum foil - nothing fancy), which he is happy to eat. But that is the exception to the rule.

oneofakind

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 12:55 pm

Why give anything? No need.

amother

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 1:14 pm

thanks

amother

Natural

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 1:14 pm

No, its inappropriate to give and for therapists to accept

amother

Ivory

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 1:15 pm

I pay them so much, maybe they should gift me (just kidding)

amother

Turquoise

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 1:29 pm

No. That would be really weird.

amother

Silver

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 1:32 pm

I gave my therapist a gift when it was my last session with her.

Surrendered

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 1:58 pm

How about speech/OT/PT/special ed therapist for young kid?

amother

Brunette

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 2:42 pm

I gave on my last session with my therapist. I gave a gift card.

amother

Natural

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 2:47 pm

Surrendered wrote:

How about speech/OT/PT/special ed therapist for young kid?

Surrendered I'd say that was okay, especially if the gift was from the child, you know, sweet and nothing over the top.

Ruchel

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 3:36 pm

odd!

amother

Brunette

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 3:40 pm

Ruchel wrote:

odd!

What is?

Amarante

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 4:03 pm

A gift to a therapist is not appropriate. I would bring my therapist Starbucks when I had gotten a latte on my way to therapy but a gift in general would not respect appropriate boundaries.

I think the type of child's therapist you are describing is more equivalent to giving a gift from a child to his/her teacher and I think appropriate.

amother

Seagreen

Wed, Nov 20 2019, 8:14 pm

I did. So has my husband. Once or twice a year (Purim, last session...) and something small.

They cannot accept extravagant gifts.

amother

Pumpkin

Thu, Nov 21 2019, 1:43 am

As a therapist here.... I don't accept major gifts. The reason behind gift policies is that it may cause a change in the relationship. Will the therapist treat you any differently? Unconsciously? It can ruin the therapeutic relationship and bias the therapist for or against a client. It can also pressure the client to feel they owe more, when all they owe is the fee (and participation, effort at doing homework, honesty etc).
Even therapists who have been in the business for years and years know that honestly, we are all human and will react to any situation. You shouldn't be treated any differently.

This is the same reason I am against gifting to teachers, school staff, OTs, speech therapists etc. we don't want to bias the relationship.
A child giving a drawing, card or token craft like that is ok- usually that won't bias. But gift cards? Checks? Candy platters? Or even Wine and fancy MM at Purim? I don't want my kid's teacher biased. For my child or against my child. Don't be scared to say my kid is misbehaving or falling behind OR unfairly favor them because you see them with pink glasses on. They should be treated according to their behavior, skill, participation, effort etc NOT my wallet or if I remembered it was the last session before any given holiday. It isn't fair to the kid or anyone else.