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Q&A: Therapy and Seclusion

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Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

Therapy and Seclusion

Question

Hello, I’ve been going to a female psychologist for a while.
Recently she moved to a private clinic, and I think this may be a case of prohibited seclusion (it doesn’t seem like there’s traffic of other people there). 
Is it permitted to continue treatment with her, or do I need to switch?

Answer

In my opinion, there’s no need to switch. You can ask her to leave the door open, and if her husband is in town there is no prohibition. Beyond that, a professional is occupied with her work. If this causes you improper thoughts, then there’s a problem regardless of the halakhic question of seclusion. And even there, that’s only if it’s really sexual.

Discussion on Answer

Problematic (2025-09-20)

Wow, thanks for the super fast answer.

Is the door of the room enough? There’s also another door to the apartment, and outside there’s another gate with a code….

Also, she’s fairly young. I don’t know if she’s married.

Michi (2025-09-20)

If there’s a barrier between you and the rest of the world, that’s considered locked. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the room door or the apartment door. But as I said, in my opinion there’s no obligation to switch unless you feel there’s a problem of improper thoughts, etc.

The Questioner (2025-09-21)

Regarding a professional,

With reference to the question asked here, where the clinic is locked with a code and the door is closed,
is it still possible to rely on the leniency that this is the psychologist’s professional work and therefore seclusion is permitted in this case?
(as long as there are no forbidden improper thoughts)

Another question about seclusion:
There is a ruling about “her husband is in town” — why can’t one also argue that “his wife is in town”? Why is it only the husband?
And in the Rabbi’s opinion, would it be permitted in a case where his wife is in town?

Michi (2025-09-21)

I think so.
You can argue that his wife is in town, but here that’s not relevant. We’re talking about a meeting in the psychologist’s home. The patient’s wife is not expected to walk in there. The leniency of “her husband is in town” was stated about their home.

The Questioner (2025-09-21)

I thought that “her husband is in town” applies anywhere in the city, not specifically in the woman’s home — even if she goes to pick something up from a neighbor.
Is that correct? Or does it only apply to the woman’s home?

Michi (2025-09-21)

The idea of “her husband is in town” is that the husband can enter the house unexpectedly. That happens in his own home, and therefore it’s reasonable that this leniency was said only about his home.

Eli Lev (2025-09-21)

I thought the idea of “her husband is in town” is that the female psychologist is afraid because her husband is in town, and therefore she wouldn’t dare do something forbidden even in another house.

The Questioner (2025-09-21)

According to the following source:
https://www.eretzhemdah.org/newsletterArticle.asp?article=3110&cat=1&lang=he&newsletter=816&pageid=48&utm_source=chatgpt.com

There is a dispute whether the rule of “her husband is in town” permits seclusion only when the woman is in her home or in any house in the city. The issue of “his wife is in town” is also discussed there, and opinions are divided on that as well.
‎•‎ From the additional source it appears that there is no leniency regarding seclusion for a doctor when the door is locked with a keypad (a locked door behind a keypad).
‎•‎ At the same time, according to some opinions, if there is a real and reasonable possibility for the clinic staff to enter at any time (without prior coordination and without delay), there may be room to be lenient; however, from the question it sounds like no such possibility exi

Michi (2025-09-21)

I wrote my opinion. Do what you think is right. That’s it.

The Questioner (2025-09-22)

I’d be glad to understand from the Rabbi how he derives his reasoning,
because I haven’t seen anyone else rely only on the matter of a professional being occupied with his work; usually it comes together with something else, like an unlocked door, etc.
(maybe I’m mistaken)

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