IntroductionCrying has always been recognized as an important and frequent part of the therapeutic process (Blume-Marcovici, Stolberg, and Khademi, 2013; Nelson, 2012). During the therapeutic process, tears are often shed by both the client and the therapist. Because therapy tends to focus on uncovering pent-up emotions, addressing traumatic experiences, processing grief, or coping with life circumstances, tears are often associated with the work done during therapy. Given that mental health therapy tends to be emotionally focused, it is surprising to discover that little research has highlighted the importance of therapists crying during the session. This leads family science researchers to wonder how often therapists cry in therapy and whether their tears are helpful or harmful to their clients (“Tears of a Therapist,” 2013). In a field so emotionally focused, more research needs to be conducted to better understand the frequency of therapists' crying during therapy and how a therapist's crying may affect clients. Understanding the frequency of therapists' tears and the effects tears have on clients can help future clinicians better advise when and if it is appropriate for them to cry in front of their clients during a therapy session. When trying to understand the meaning of therapist tears in clinical settings, researchers are often faced with the question: "Are therapist tears helpful or harmful?" Much of the literature associated with therapist crying in therapy agrees that therapist tears can demonstrate empathy and strengthen the therapeutic alliance (Blume-Marcovici, Stolberg, & Khademi, 2013). On the other hand, research also indicates that therapists' tears can create role reversal...... middle of article...... J., Lehmann, M., Pesale, F ., Beckermatero, N. and Hilsenroth, M. (2012). Therapeutic immediacy in long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: An evidence-based case study. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59, 27-40. Nelson, J. K. (2012). Crying in psychotherapy: its meaning, assessment and management based on attachment theory. Emotional regulation: conceptual and clinical issues, 202-2014.Nichols, MP (2013). Bowen family systemic therapy. In MP Nichols and RC Schwartz, Family therapy: concepts and methods (10th ed., pp. 76-96). Boston: Allyn and BaconSummers, RF and Barber, JP (2010). Psychodynamic therapy: an evidence-based practice guide. New York: Guildford Press. Tears of a Therapist (2013). British Psychological Society, 26, 328. Vingerhoets, AJ & Cornelius, RR (2001). Adult crying: a biopsychosocial approach. Hove, United Kingdom: Brunner-Routledge.