What You Should Know When You See Your Therapist in Public: A Quick Guide for Central PA
Picture this: It's Saturday morning at the Giant in Lewisburg. Someone is reaching for produce when they spot a familiar face by the apples. It's their therapist. The internal questions begin: "Should I say hello? Will they acknowledge me? What if my friend asks how we know each other?"
What happens if you see your therapist in public? What can you say if you run into them at a grocery store, at Evangelical Community Hospital, or at a wedding in Williamsport? Should you say hello? Can you have a conversation? Do you have to start running?
While it's understandable to feel uncertain or nervous about seeing your therapist outside of the therapy room (especially if they are your new therapist), there are a couple of things to know that may help you feel more comfortable about this experience. This is especially relevant in Central Pennsylvania's close-knit communities like Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, and Williamsport, where running into people you know—including your therapist—is simply part of daily life. Keep reading for a quick guide to what you can (and shouldn’t worry about) do when it comes to seeing your therapist outside of the office.
First of All, It's Actually Not Really a Big Deal
It can feel awkward and uncomfortable to encounter your therapist "in the wild." Don't worry, though—it's totally expected (and okay) for both you and your therapist to go about their day like anyone else. We all need to grab food and get out of the house, after all! If you see your therapist in the store or somewhere else outside of a therapy session, don't feel like you have to hide, avoid eye contact, or run away from them. In fact, this is almost certainly something your therapist has experienced before. Between you and their other patients, there have been plenty of opportunities to see clients in their personal life. In fact, they probably spoke about these exact sorts of run-ins when they were in grad school, during other parts of their professional training, or just when they were around other therapists!
The Small-Town Reality
In smaller communities like Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, Mifflinburg, and surrounding areas, these encounters are even more common. Professionals working in Central Pennsylvania might cross paths at the Lewisburg Farmers Market on Saturday morning, at a Bucknell University event, or while grabbing coffee on Market Street. For parents, there's an added layer—children might attend the same schools or play on the same sports teams. Social circles overlap at community events, local businesses, and neighborhood gatherings. This isn't a flaw in choosing a local therapist—it's just part of living in a close-knit community where connections are everywhere.
What Am I Allowed to Say?
Seeing your therapist in public is perfectly normal, and there's really no need to be worried. It can be a good opportunity to say hello, chat briefly about something unrelated to therapy, and even ask how the therapist's day or week is going. In fact, there are actually not any specific laws prohibiting what you can or can't say to your own therapist. The only rule really is what you feel comfortable doing in this situation. Otherwise, it's the same rules as talking to anyone else. You can't break confidentiality for yourself!
You don't have to say too much, it could just be friendly small talk such as chatting about the weather or mentioning the community event you're both attending. If you prefer it, you can even say nothing and pretend you didn't just run into your therapist buying toilet paper in aisle seven. Whatever you choose to say or not say, just remember that all that happened is you saw a person you know in public. Even though it might feel uncomfortable or anxiety-provoking, it is certainly not going to impact therapy moving forward.
Why Your Therapist Might Not Say "Hi" to You First
Don't be surprised if you run into your therapist at the grocery store or a restaurant in downtown Lewisburg, yet they don't initiate contact. You might be surprised to learn they are often legally prevented from doing so. This is a confidentiality and privacy measure to protect both you and your therapist out of respect for your therapeutic relationship.
Imagine this: You're out walking with friends near Bucknell's campus and you see your therapist. They say "Hi" and you respond back. Your friends introduce themselves and ask "how do you know this person?" You and your therapist are stuck!
If your therapist told your friends that you are their client, they are actually revealing your private information and breaking confidentiality. Additionally, if they put you in a situation where you have to tell a friend who this random person (i.e., your therapist) is, they are putting you in a potentially privacy-breaking situation. However, this information is legally yours, so you are 100% able to start a conversation with your therapist. If you are with a friend, they will still respond but would likely not reference anything therapy related until you do. Even if you do reveal that you are their patient, therapists are prohibited from revealing anything you spoke about in session.
What About the Specific Place I See Them?!
You might feel stressed or second-guess yourself! It can be especially true for those who have trouble with small talk or might wish they could just plan all social meetings in advance. But then it happens! You make eye contact with someone and it feels weird not to say something.
While it's normal for something like this to be stressful, in most situations the same rules apply. If you see them walking around downtown Selinsgrove or sitting somewhere at a Williamsport café, there's no problem saying "hi" and having a brief conversation. This might be in a store, theater, park, or just the same building or outdoor space you happen to be in.
Should I Talk About My "Therapist Sighting" in Therapy?
Of course! It is absolutely something you can (and probably should) bring up in therapy! The therapeutic relationship is built on openness and trust. When there is something about this relationship that is unspoken or just feels awkward, it is usually best to bring it up. These unexpected encounters might lead to some interesting conversations and clear up some misunderstandings you ran into. So if you were feeling worried about whether you "did something wrong" or wondered why your therapist reacted a certain way, acknowledge it! Try to bring it up in the first session you have after you see them outside of an office setting. It would most likely help your treatment goals if you practice having potentially awkward things discussed!
Overall, You Both Have a Personal Life and That's Okay!
Even if you have a great relationship with your therapist, it might still be uncomfortable seeing them out and about in Lewisburg or the surrounding area. It's sort of like seeing your elementary school teacher outside of school. Even though you saw them all the time, those random run-ins can fry your brain and make you anxious! So no worries if you feel uncomfortable when this happens but just know it is a possibility for anyone receiving therapy!
It's actually bound to happen if you live in a small town like Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, or Mifflinburg, or have similar interests. You are allowed to say hi and be respectful, but try your best to keep the conversation short. It might be up to you to introduce the conversation as they need to protect your privacy, and may not acknowledge you first. This is something you can and should talk about during your therapy sessions. If this has happened to you, this article hopefully helps you understand what you are allowed to say or do. If this hasn't happened yet, it may be a good idea to ask your therapist what you should do in this scenario. It is especially recommended if you are in Central Pennsylvania's smaller communities or are in other situations where you would likely have some overlap. Maybe you have the same medical provider or your kids go to the same school. You will likely feel much less awkward if you have a game plan in place so you can imagine what it will be like. But if not, feel free to review this article if you ever run into your therapist outside of their office!
Therapy in Central Pennsylvania's close-knit communities comes with unique considerations. Connect & Cultivate offers compassionate, confidential individual therapy in Lewisburg, PA, with an understanding of the dynamics of small-town life.
Keywords: therapy boundaries Lewisburg PA, seeing therapist in public, small town therapy, therapist confidentiality, therapy Selinsgrove PA, mental health Williamsport, therapy Central Pennsylvania, therapeutic relationship
