Therapist's Bizarre Matchmaking Attempt Ends Longtime Patient Relationship

A woman's trust in her therapist is shattered after the therapist emails her about potentially matching her young daughter with another child.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A woman recounts her 10-year relationship with her therapist, Dora, and how it came to an abrupt end after Dora emailed her about potentially matching her young daughter with another child she had met on vacation. The woman was shocked and disturbed by Dora's unsolicited and inappropriate matchmaking attempt, which she saw as a major breach of trust and professional boundaries. She ultimately ended the therapy relationship, though she still misses Dora and is grateful for the skills she learned during their time together.

Why it matters

This story highlights the importance of trust and boundaries in the therapist-patient relationship, and how a breach of that trust can have a profound impact. It also raises questions about the mental health of therapists and whether they are immune from their own personal issues that could affect their professional judgment.

The details

The woman first started seeing Dora in 2005 for pre-wedding counseling. Over the next 10 years, she saw Dora on and off, discussing her first marriage, divorce, daughter, and other personal matters. She felt Dora helped her become a better communicator and decision-maker. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their sessions moved to Zoom, which the woman felt flattened the experience. Then in May 2020, the woman received an email from Dora about potentially matching the woman's young daughter with a "mesmerizing little boy" Dora had met on vacation. Dora included photos of the boy and extolled his virtues, which the woman found deeply disturbing and a major breach of trust and professional boundaries.

  • The woman first started seeing Dora in 2005.
  • The woman and Dora had an on-and-off therapy relationship that spanned 10 years.
  • The woman received Dora's email about the potential child matchup in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The players

Dora

The woman's therapist for 10 years, who ultimately violated the woman's trust by emailing her about potentially matching her young daughter with another child.

The woman

A longtime patient of Dora's who had an otherwise positive and productive therapy relationship until Dora's inappropriate matchmaking attempt.

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What they’re saying

“I met a mesmerizing little boy," her email began.”

— Dora, Therapist (Slate)

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical need for therapists to maintain strict professional boundaries and the trust of their patients. Dora's unsolicited and inappropriate matchmaking attempt was a severe breach that ultimately ended an otherwise productive long-term therapy relationship, underscoring the fragility of that trust and the potential consequences when it is violated.