I never used someone in that way.

Wasn’t that on Sex in the City? Anyway…, low people do low things. Nuff said.

Don't we all sound off on our friends? As they do us. In regards to a guy using me as his psychiatrist - I have found that anyone that I may have been in love with never divulged as much as I would have liked them to. And as a result I think I read body language cues well... Actually come to think of it most guys that I know really do not talk a lot. The ones that do go on and on are not really saying anything anyway... (Is this a trick question?)

It would depend on the girl. If you guys are long-time friends, then it's like SWSNBN said- no big deal because everyone sounds off on friends.

However, you specifically said "used" which leads me to believe that you know that this girl is into you and possibly wants more of a relationship with you. In that case, the onus is on you to be honourable and to NOT give her any reason to think that you might be interested in her. To continue to "use" her in that case would be utterly selfish on your part.

Note: SWEEPING GENERALIZATION AHEAD. Girls talk about their feelings and emotions. It's what we do. We play psychiatrist to each other all the time. It's a way to strengthen our relationships with each other as well as vent. If you're specifically singling this girl out for therapy sessions, she might be reading into it, especially if she's already interested in you.

Bottom line: tread carefully. You run the risk of using her emotionally, which is no bueno.

from a woman's perspective, i had a guy pretend to be in love with me because he was using me as an emotional crutch. that kind of behavior is deceitful and manipulative if you're dating/have shown romantic interest but have not made it official. when she realizes that you're "using" her, don't turn things around on her and say that she was "naive" because she obviously cares for and trusts you to be honest. anyone that admits to "using" a woman in any way, with or without what he deems as "consent," is a scumbag, plain and simple. if you need a psychiatrist, get a job with health insurance.

Well, how old are you? If you are in your late 20s or 30s or later then I would say it is wrong to pull someone along just because you like them as a sounding board. If you are young and neither are really looking for a wife/husband but just some fun then I don't see much wrong with that. She could very well be getting what she wants from the relationship.

But, as I said, if she is looking for love or a future then you are leading her on for your own gains, which is not good. It is also not age dependent, I used the above situations as reference but there are young people who look for love and a future. You need to know where she stands.

I have a guy friend that I dated when I was in my teens (he's 4 years older than me) and we are both in our 40's now and he is definitely my psychiatrist. I even call him "the doctor". He is always there to give me a man's perspective and listen to whatever is going on and almost always gives me sound, intuitive advice. I don't know that I would consider it using him because I care about him deeply and I consider him one of my best friends!

Doesnt that explain a friendship?

If your letting her think that you are in love with her and you guys really are in a relationship then ya this is messed up. Dont lead girls on that way. But if you like having her there to talk to and vent to and just be there but you arent in love with her well to me that explains what a friendship is.

Doesnt that explain a friendship?

If your letting her think that you are in love with her and you guys really are in a relationship then ya this is messed up. Dont lead girls on that way. But if you like having her there to talk to and vent to and just be there but you arent in love with her well to me that explains what a friendship is.

Interesting. So if a guy were to use me as his psychiatrist, that would lead me to believe that our "relationship" was going smoothly because opening up on thoughts and feelings and secrets is how I as a female would normally bond. It is how we as women relate... Not a good thing to identify for guys in general to know and use.

Only the OP can tell us what he meant by "use"... If he is just talking at me
without any sincere interest in anything going on in my life - am pretty sure I would notice - as would any woman. If he is not obvious and leads me to think he cares, that's just the worst because likely I would reciprocate with genuineness and he would be making me a fool for caring.

Think I've been a psychiatrist to someone before, who was going through a hard time. It was very confusing for me, because I felt if he's sharing this stuff with me, he must really trust me and therefore, like me. I was wrong, he ended up comitting to someone else. But it made me question...does he share this same stuff with her? If a guy is starting a relationship does he share the heavy stuff with a girl he's still trying to impress, or does he save that stuff for the girl he's not interested in, unafraid of what she thinks because he's not interested? What's funny is that's the girl he should be with because he can be himself with her completely, no holding back. The same can be said for us girls too. Not sure if it's true, but just something I've thought about since then.

I've been a psychiatrist for some of my male-friends and they, especially one of them, have been for me. When is just friendship and you have the confidence with them to talk about your inner thoughts and fears, that's something good. The problem, I think, comes when what you (or she) wants is not friendship and therapy is just a convinient way to be together. Then your losing your time and hers. I've learned that when there's attraction between a man and a woman friendship is not possible, 'cause there are other interests. But if there's no attraction from both, then be friends, have friend-therapy together, talk about things. And stop worrying.