Why might a therapist not establish strict rules about what to call them, and how does this lack of formality contribute to the therapy process?

November 20, 2025

I have never had any professional rules about what people call me. I’m not someone who maintains much formality in any contexts. I try to maintain professional boundaries through my actions.

My overall goal is to create a safe and non-judgmental setting where people can ideally express all their facets, and allow themselves to be vulnerable as needed. I don’t believe that formality regarding how I’m addressed would support this process.

While there is an inherent power imbalance in most every therapeutic relationship, I try to establish a collaborative relationship to offset this dynamic. Making someone call me Mr. Schnapp or some other such formality would only emphasize a hierarchy that I don’t believe is helpful to the therapeutic process.

I don’t have a doctorate or a medical degree so I’m not a doctor, so that title wouldn’t be accurate. I don’t believe I’d assert that title even if I had that particular degree. I don’t see how it would be helpful in strengthening a therapeutic alliance.

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